Gatehouse

The National Monuments Service's description

In level pasture, on the N shore of Templehouse Lake. The ivy-clad ruin of a square (5.95m E-W) two-storey gatehouse, stands on the N side of a complex of ruined buildings (SL033-026001-; SL033-026002-; SL033-026004-) and was probably the entrance into the bawn (see SL033-026002-). The tower stood to full height in the 19th century (see drawing O'Rorke 1878, 315) but now its S wall has entirely collapsed. The N wall still stands to near full height though its top is covered by ivy. Built of uncoursed limestone in a lime mortar, the walls have a distinct base-batter. There is a central ground-floor archway in the N wall (Wth 1.75m); the arch is pointed and the opening framed by dressed limestone blocks. The doorway is choked by fallen masonry and the area inside filled by rubble to 1st-floor level. This area was covered by a groin vault which has almost entirely fallen. Running E from the tower is a high wall set back 2.5m from its N face; the corresponding area on the W side is covered by rubble (see SL033-026002-). The 19th-century drawing (ibid.) shows a plain rectangular opening over the doorway but this area is now covered by ivy. This drawing also shows the remains of battlements on top of the tower. In general appearance the tower would appear to be 15th/16th-century in date and contemporary with the bawn wall (SL033-026002-).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005).

Date of upload: 18 January 2008