Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

A two storey tower house was added on to the E end of the Anchorites church (WM004-035004-) in the 15th or 16th century. This tower house was rebuilt by Richard Nugent in 1680 as stated on a wall memorial inside the Anchorites Church (WM004-035004-). A rectangular sandstone plaque (WM004-035031-) above the Nugent mausoleum door in the Anchorite's Church (WM004-035004-) notes that a tower house or castle and chapel (WM004-035004-) was rebuilt in 1680. The plaque bears the Nugent arms and a relief inscription in Roman capitals: THE RIGHT HONORABLE/ RICHARD NVGENT EARLE/ OF WESTMEATHE AT HIS OWN/ EXPENCES REBVILDED THIS/ CHAPLE AND CASTLE FOR/ THE BVRYINGE PLACE AND/ PIOVS VSE OF HIMSELFE AND/ HIS SVCESSORS ANNO/ DOMINI 1680 (Bradley et. al. 1985, 80). Described by Bradley in 1985 as 'the tower is rectangular with a projecting stair-turret on the W side. It is two-storeyed and constructed of roughly coursed limestone. Internally it measures 4.17m by 2.45m. Externally the SW corner is rounded 2m above the ground level and there is a buttress at the NW corner. There is a string course of recent date above the first floor which supports the renovated stepped battlements above. There is a pointed head with broad forehead and open mouth on the west wall of the stair turret. A limestone gargoyle projects above the first floor on the south wall; it is a winged animal but the face has been smashed off. The tower is entered from the W through the Nugent mausoleum and since there is no sign of any other entry it indicates that there was originally a chapel on the N side of the tower. The upper courses of the tower are modern (Bradley et. al. 1985, 80-1).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 21 November 2013

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H. 1985 Urban archaeological survey - county Westmeath. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.