Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

In level pasture, surface of field uneven. According to the Civil Survey (1654-6), in 1640, 'Archybald Lord Archbishopp of Cashell', was owner of the 'Manor Court & lands of Camus halfe a colpe', 'Upon the s[ai]d lands stands a large stone house with a bawne about it' (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 376). The OS Letters (1840) describe the two mural towers as the, 'small remains of two square castles' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 118 (312-13). White (1892, 16) also mentions the remains of the bawn which, 'are to found in four different places: the principal part standing directly over the river Suir; another part, which was probably a gate house, being too small for the residence of more than one or two persons, stands to the south of the other ruins. From the different position of these, and their distance from each other, the castle must have covered a considerable space, or at least, enclosed a large courtyard. It was probably the country residence of the Archbishops of Cashel. We read that Archbishop Malcolm Hamilton died at his house at Camas, 25th April, 1629'.
Roughly oval area (dims. 50m ENE-WSW; 40m NNW-SSE) defined by remains of levelled scarp (Wth 8-22m; H 0.4-1.65m) with a mural tower abutting to NW. Interior is generally level. Another tower, depicted on the 6-inch OS map as 'Camus Castle (in Ruins)' adjoined to the SE but is not visible at ground level. The castle (TS060-026001-), probably located in the interior, is not visible at ground level. The surviving mural tower is built into the SE bank of the River Suir which on this stretch is flowing from NE to SW. Ground level rises to SE. Only the NW and SW face of this rectangular tower (dims. 3.85m x 10.15m) survives, constructed of roughly cut limestone blocks, roughly coursed, with a base-batter (H 2.25m) on the NW side. The S end of the SW face survives to 3.1m above ext. ground level. At the S angle all the quoins have been broken out, those at the N angle are roughly dressed, though the lower ones are missing. External render survives in patches on NW face.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 22 July 2014

References

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1930 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Tipperary collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840. Bray.

White, J.D. 1892 Anthologia Tipperariensis. Cashel.

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1934 The Civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. II: county of Tipperary - Western and Northern baronies. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.