Town defences

The National Monuments Service's description

The plan of the town from around 1560 shows that the small settlement clustered around the Fort (LA013-014001-) was enclosed by a wall delimiting a rectangular area. No mural towers or gatehouse are indicated but two openings in the W wall, immediately N and S of the fort and a probable opening in the E wall are indicated. A lease of 1569-71 mentions the 'east gate' of Maryborough. The towns charter of 1570 empowered the coproration to 'fortify the borough with dicthes and stone walls' which may indicted that the defences shown in the map of c. 1560 were considered inadequate by then. There is no defintive evidence, however, for the fortification of Maryborough after 1570. There are no surviving remains of the defences and it is difficult to gauge their exact route (Bradley 1986, 52-3). The E boundary of the town is probably preserved by the line of the Triogue River, the S wall was probably close to the townland boundary, while the W wall may be preserved in the line of Railway St. and Lyster Lane. The 16th century map shows two openings in the W wall, which may represent gatehouses. These lay immediately N and S of the fort controlling entry to Main St. and Church St. There is a similar opening in the E wall in Bridge St. An unusual feature depicted on the 1560 map is the presence of an intra-mural walled enclosure in the SE angle. Its function is unknown (Bradley 1986, 53).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 17 December 2007

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A. and King, H.A. 1986 Urban archaeological survey - county Laois. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.