Historic town

The National Monuments Service's description

The castle of Wicklow (WI025-013----) was granted to Strongbow by Henry II in 1173 (Scott and Martin 1978, 121), which appears to indicate that there was a pre-Norman settlement at this site. The name is derived from the Scandinavian; either Vikingalo, 'meadow of the Vikings', or Vik-lo 'meadow of the bay' (Oftedal 1976, 130). The 'King's street' is mentioned in a deed of 1256-68 (MacNeill 1950, 131) and although the town went into decline having been captured in 1301 it came to prominence once again in the late 16th and 17th centuries (Bradley and King 1989, 68). Kerrigan (1995, 38) states that in 1576 what must have been earthwork ramparts were constructed around Wicklow and Arklow. In addition to the Franciscan Friary (WI025-012002-) there is a reference to a Benedictine convent having existed here from 1448 to 1470 and to a leper hospital in existence in 1578 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 325, 357).

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

References

Scott, A.B. and Martin, F.X. (eds) 1978 Expugnatio Hibernica: the conquest of Ireland by Giraldus Cambrensis. A new history of Ireland, ancillary publications, iii. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.

Oftedal, M. 1976 Scandinavian place-names in Ireland. In B. Almqvist, and D. Greene (eds), Proceedings of the seventh Viking congress, 125-33. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.

MacNeill, C. 1950 Calendar of Archbishop Alen's register c. 1172-1534. Dublin.

Kerrigan P.M. 1995 Castles and fortifications in Ireland 1485-1945. Cork. The Collins Press.

Bradley, J. and King, H.A. 1989 Urban archaeological survey - county Wicklow. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.