Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated within a ringwork (WI019-017----) on a slight shelf with level ground all around. The flat interior of the ringwork is defined by the foundations of a stone wall (Wth 1-1.5m) forming a polygonal shape. The wall only survives to a height of 0.5m except at N where two portions survive to c. 4m. One section has three putlog holes 1m from the ground. According to the Irish Tourist Authority (ITA) Survey of 1942 'on the lands of Ballyvolan House near the southern extremity of Ballyvolan Glen, are the scant remains of an ancient castle in which, it is said, James II found refuge on his flight from the Boyne. Numerous finds have been made near this site, including skeletons and burnt wood, and, in a nearby marl pit, a large horn containing Elizabethan coins - most of these discoveries were made over a century ago' (SMR File).

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: 31 Ooctober 2012

References

Irish Tourist Association. Surveys undertaken in the 1940s for the Irish Tourist Association (now Fáilte Ireland) relating to ‘Natural features, antiquities, historic associations etc.' Extracts from these surveys were copied into the Topographical files of the Office of Public Works and these have been incorporated into the Sites and Monuments Record files (National Monuments Service).