Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on top of Blundell Hill with extensive views of surrounding land. Only the E and S walls of this three storeys high rectangular Tower house (14m N-S; 11m E-W; wall T 1.5m) survives. The walls of the Tower house have been built with randomly coursed limestone rubble. A later building has been added to the SW angle. Slight base batter evident on the S and E walls. At N end of the E wall a later fireplace has been inserted at ground floor level, the building of this fireplace has reduced the thickness of the N returning wall. Three rectangular slit windows set in segmental arched embrasures on S wall at ground floor level. Later blocked fireplace on S wall at first floor level with earlier double garderobe chute directly behind fireplace exiting outer face of S wall at first floor level. Large square shaped window at E end of S wall at first floor level. No evidence of stairwell or vaulting, floors must have been wooden carried in the thickness of the wall. Probable late medieval Tower house with later alterations such as the insertions of fireplaces. (Comerford 1883, 138; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 30-1)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 23 May 2011

References

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1933 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the King's County collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Bray.

Comerford, Rev. M. 1883-6 Collections relating to the dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin, 3 vols. James Duffy and Sons. Dublin.