Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a SE-facing slope overlooking the Dargle valley. Built by William Brabazon, the Treasurer of Ireland, in 1535 (Fitzgerald, 1909-11, 129), only two walls (the W and S) of this granite-built tower house survive, although traces of the foundations of the other two can be identified. A substantial part of the barrel vault extends from the S wall over the first floor. Embrasures and aumbries survive at the ground- and first-floor levels in both walls. The barrel vault and the soffits of the embrasures retain traces of wicker centering. The doorway and stairwell were on either the E or N side and no trace of them survives.

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

Date of upload/revision: 17 December 2008

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 120/1940).

References

FitzGerald, Lord W. 1909-11 The manor and castle of Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow in the sixteenth century, formerly a possession of the Earls of Kildare. Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society 6, 127-39.