House - 17th century

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on flat land in undulating countryside. Square shaped area enclosed by bawn wall (OF046-008002-) constructed with roughly coursed limestone rubble with base batter visible. Original gate tower to bawn at centre of N wall and protrudes beyond external face of wall flanked by musket opes. One of these opes is now blocked by a rebuilt section of the bawn wall on the W side, probably a result of 19th-century improvements to the bawn. There is evidence of a bartizan on the NE angle which was carried externally on corbels and a flanking turret on the SE angle (ext. diam. 6.6m), of which only the foundations survive. There are several modern sheds located inside the bawn with the original tower house located in the NW angle which presently stands one storey high with a fine transomed and mullioned window of Jacobean style in the W wall. The Tower house (OF046-008001-) is constructed with roughly coursed limestone rubble with base batter visible. At the S end of the bawn there is a small two storey T-plan house of 17th century date with later 19th-century extension at N end of house. Small tower projecting at rear of house contained stairs which was the only access to the first floor which is a characteristic feature of late 17th/early 18th-century houses. Probable 17th-century tower house and bawn with later 17th-century house erected inside bawn (Cooke 1875, 34) House indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) map.

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