Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in pasture. Bawn of Simonstown Castle (WM026-089----) depicted on Boyd’s Estate Map of 1818 (WCL/M/BBE/7) as being half the size of the rectilinear-shaped enclosure (approx. dims. 100m N-S x 58m E-W) shown on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map and the revised 1913 ed. OS 25-inch map. Tower house (WM026-089----) adjoins half way along the inner E side. Monument described in 1976 and 1978 as a rectangular-shaped enclosure defined by a substantial bank of earth and stone to NE, SE and SW, having no real indication of an external fosse. There is a double bank with a shallow dip along the NW side. The earthwork is best preserved along the NE side where it has a sharp profile and an outward splay at the NE corner, which appears slightly raised. There is a narrow earthen flat platform or terrace-like feature approx. half way up the outer face of the NE bank. This side has an entrance gap at N, outside of which are the ruins of a 19th century house, with yellow brick dressings, said to be a herdsman’s house of the former estate (local information). The interior has an E-facing slope and is slightly uneven with a few stones scattered around the surface.

Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien.

Date of upload: 04 November 2019