Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

The Civil Survey (1654-6) records Edmond Prendergast of NewCastle Esqr, Irish Papist as proprietor in 1640 and relates that a 'Court-leet and a Court-Barron are appendant to the sd Mannor of NewCastle whereupon stands the walls of a house and a castle with a bawne about them and an orchard' (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 331-2). Located on the NE facing slope on the SW bank of the river Suir in rolling pastureland. Irregular bawn (dims. c. 40m NE-SW; c. 58m NW-SE), the SW length does not survive. A tower house (TS088-032002-) is located in the interior near the former SW wall and towards the NW end. There is a circular mural tower (int. dims. 3.5m) at the S angle of the bawn with base-batter (H 1.2m; Wth 0.28m) and a square mural tower 2.65m NW of this, connected by bawn wall. There is a garderobe exit chute in the external angle between the circular tower and the bawn wall. The NW bawn wall has four sequential pointed arched recesses (H 1.8m Wth 2.9m; D 0.9m) with cut sandstone surrounds. The circular tower, three storeys high, is entered through a pointed doorway in N sector, this ground-floor chamber is well defended by gun loops. The first floor is enter from an external stairs in N wall and it also gives access to a garderobe chamber and a mural stairs. The first floor was lit by two windows, in the SE and S sector and there are two wall cupboards. In W sector there is a small flue for a fireplace. Second floor was entered through a pointed doorway in E sector accessed from the mural stairs. It has two windows, in the SW and NW sectors. Small fireplace in NW. The interior has thick lime plaster rendering which probably dates to the eighteenth century when the tower was used as a gazebo or tea tower. In a sketch by Du Noyer (1840 vol.2, 39(ii) unpublished, RSAI) the tower is depicted as being surmounted by a cupola with a weather vein. The square mural tower, two storeys with former gabled roof, was entered through a round-headed doorway in the W end of the SW wall. There is a large fireplace in the NW wall, the back of which has links of an iron chain. To the N of this there is a wall oven. There is a small flue on the W side which appears to be seperate from the main chimney flue. In the NE wall there is a partially blocked broken-out window.The first floor was supported by a wooden floor. In the NW wall there is a fireplace which is partially blocked with brick. In the NE wall there is a flat-headed window with a later wooden frame. The interior is lime plastered. A large stone chimney stack surmounts the NW gable.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011

References

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