Architectural feature

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on the E side of Clonmellon town with Killua Castle 890m to E and Knock Killua Church (WM009-043----) 1.5km to ESE. A 19th century square-shaped tower (int. dims 1.7m x 1.76m; wall T 0.55m; approx. max. H 4m) built of limestone rubble standing over and housing a natural spring now dried up known as Isaac's Well. In the SE wall of the tower there is a pointed doorway the arch of which has been constructed with three late medieval sparrow-pecked voussoirs the edges of which have rope moulding of possible 16th century date. The two lower jamb stones of the pointed window above the doorway in the tower also have rope moulding and probably came from the same medieval doorway. According to the NIAH the cut stone fragments reputedly came from the doorway of a medieval church. The rope or cable moulding is similar to the moulding on medieval carved doorway (WM033-040----) at 19th century Meedin Church.
The location of this medieval church has not been identified but it could have come from Knock Killua Church (WM009-043----) located on the demesne lands of Killua Castle the residence of Sir Benjamin Chapman who built the folly in 1860. However the medieval stonework at Killua Church is dressed differently from the punch-dressed stone incorporated into the folly. It is more likely that the cut stone fragments came from the Franciscan Friary at Multyfarnham (WM006-058---). According to local tradition the carved stone surrounds found around the openings at the folly known as 'Killua Castle' built by Sir Benjamin Chapman were brought from the medieval Franciscan Friary at Multyfarnham.
The folly was described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage [NIAH] as following; 'Freestanding single-bay two-storey Gothic Revival-style tower/folly on square plan housing a well, constructed c.1860. Constructed of random rubble limestone with cut stone quoins to corners. Pointed-arch doorway with cut-stone surround to east face with pointed-arch window opening with cut stone surrounds above, Oculus opening with cut stone surround to first floor on north face. Located to the east of the village close to the Clonmellon Lodge and west entrance to Killua Castle. This interesting and attractive folly was built by Sir Benjamin Chapman of Killua Castle (and the MP for Westmeath at the time) to enhance the beauty of the village. It was named 'Isaac's Well' after Isaac White, a Blacksmith, who lived next door to the well at the time of its construction. Benjamin Chapman reputedly used architectural fragments from a medieval church in the construction of this building' (www.buildingsofireland.ie).

Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 26 April 2017