Roscrea Castle - 17th century chimney flue
This chimney flue belongs to one of the smaller fireplaces on the 2nd floor of the gate tower. I understand it was part of the 17th century alterations. Looking up this flue I could see no further than a few feet and beyond that pitch black darkness. Took a photo using the flash but was unsure how it would turn out.
Roscrea Castle is located in the centre of Roscrea town, County Tipperary and has survived in a relatively complete state compared to other Irish castles. Since its beginnings in the early 13th century, the castle has had a varied history and managed to narrowly avoid destruction during the 17th century Cromwellian and Williamite wars. This has ensured the gate tower and curtain walls have survived more or less intact.
Today the castle is a national monument and a major tourist attraction in the region. What the visitor sees are the castle structures that date mainly from the 14th century incorporating 17th century additions to the gate tower. Damer House built in the early 18th century is located within the castle yard.
The castle was originally surrounded by a defensive moat connected to the nearby River Brosna but this had fallen out of use and infilled by the 17th century. The curtain walls incorporated three towers of which the two D-shaped towers have survived and are currently undergoing restorative work. The main gate tower guarded the castle entrance and originally incorporated a drawbridge and portcullis whose mechanisms have been reproduced for display purposes.
The tower is open to visitors and access to its floors is via a narrow stone spiral staircase, whose narrowness would have made it easier to defence. The main living area was the great room on the 1st floor and this includes the remains of the large stone fireplace, a minstrel gallery as well as the winding mechanism for the drawbridge and portcullis. A basement under the tower was discovered when excavations commenced in 1983 and it’s believed this may have been the castle’s dungeon. It was common practise to place the dungeon under the gate tower and a similar arrangement can be seen at Trim castle. There is also a medieval garderobe or latrine at the end of a long corridor off to the western end of the tower. All rooms have been fitted out with 17th century furnishings for display purposes as well as a display depicting the archaeological excavations along with some of the items discovered there.
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Timeline:
c.1213 - The Norman invaders look to consolidating their hard-won gains in the region by building a stronghold castle. This was initially of the standard motte and bailey type (www.iol.ie/~sligogrm/mottenbailey.htm ).
c.1287 - The motte and bailey structures were replaced with a large stone built gate tower together with curtain walls, wall towers and outhouses.
1315 - Castle granted to the Butlers who held it until the early 18th century. The Butlers later became the Earls of Ormond, an Anglo-Irish family of Norman descent and loyal to the English Crown, especially the Lancastrian and Tudor branches.
1332 - A major reconstruction of the castle was carried out and it’s during this period the stone curtain walls with towers were constructed and the gate tower raised to its full height of three storeys.
Early 17th century - gable ends and chimney stacks added to gate tower. This is the form in which it has survived.
1646 - During the Cromwellian Wars in Ireland, the Irish Chieftan, Eoin Roe O’Neill captured the castle and plundered it killing most of its inhabitants.
1650 - Roscrea Castle surrendered to the Cromwell’s forces and came under English control.
c.1690 - After the Williamite Wars in Ireland (1698-1691) the castle was vacated and fell into disuse. Roscrea Castle was not directly involved in any military action during this period and hence, its better state of survival. Other castles in Ireland such as those at Limerick and Athlone were not so fortunate and would have suffered bombardment and damage from artillery.
1703 - The Butlers (Earls of Ormond) sold the castle to the King’s Hospital of Kilmainham (Dublin).
1722 - The castle was purchased by John Damer.
1798 - The house and castle grounds sold. Became a military barracks housing some 110 soldiers.
1892 – Castle complex becomes a National Monument and is protected from further deterioration. Within the following years remedial work was carried out as well as fitting a new roof (compare postcard pictures of the castle in first reference).
1980’s - Modern buildings cleared from the castle yard and major restoration works by the Office of Public Works (OPW, now called Dúchas) commenced on the castle.
1983-1988 – Four separate archaeological excavations carried out at the castle. Published as Excavations at Roscrea Castle, edited by Conleth Manning and published by the Dublin Stationery Office 2003, ISBN 0 7557 1431 8 (pbk).
Today - Damer House, the castle grounds, garden and gate tower are open to the public, guided tours are available. Restoration works continue on both medieval D-shaped castle towers.
.
References:
www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/sports-recreation/pos... (An interesting article about Roscrea Castle with old postcard/picture images).
www.roscreaheritage.com/whattosee_roscrea.htm (Roscrea Heritage Society website – castle).
www.heritagetowns.com/roscrealarge2.shtml (A good panoramic view of the castle gate tower).
www.flickr.com/photos/45755268@N00/457165987/in/set-72157... (Another good view of the gate tower, this time from ground level. Notice the added gables and tall chimney stacks that were added during the early 17th century.)
www.geograph.ie/photo/224465 (Another view of the gate tower from lower Castle Street).
www.excavations.ie/Pages/Details.php?Year=&County=Tip... (Brief account of the archaeological excavations of Roscrea Castle).
www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/RoscreaHerita... (Heritage Ireland (Dúchas) website – Roscrea Heritage Centre including admission details). OK
.
Thank you for reading.
Stuart.
Roscrea Castle - 17th century chimney flue
This chimney flue belongs to one of the smaller fireplaces on the 2nd floor of the gate tower. I understand it was part of the 17th century alterations. Looking up this flue I could see no further than a few feet and beyond that pitch black darkness. Took a photo using the flash but was unsure how it would turn out.
Roscrea Castle is located in the centre of Roscrea town, County Tipperary and has survived in a relatively complete state compared to other Irish castles. Since its beginnings in the early 13th century, the castle has had a varied history and managed to narrowly avoid destruction during the 17th century Cromwellian and Williamite wars. This has ensured the gate tower and curtain walls have survived more or less intact.
Today the castle is a national monument and a major tourist attraction in the region. What the visitor sees are the castle structures that date mainly from the 14th century incorporating 17th century additions to the gate tower. Damer House built in the early 18th century is located within the castle yard.
The castle was originally surrounded by a defensive moat connected to the nearby River Brosna but this had fallen out of use and infilled by the 17th century. The curtain walls incorporated three towers of which the two D-shaped towers have survived and are currently undergoing restorative work. The main gate tower guarded the castle entrance and originally incorporated a drawbridge and portcullis whose mechanisms have been reproduced for display purposes.
The tower is open to visitors and access to its floors is via a narrow stone spiral staircase, whose narrowness would have made it easier to defence. The main living area was the great room on the 1st floor and this includes the remains of the large stone fireplace, a minstrel gallery as well as the winding mechanism for the drawbridge and portcullis. A basement under the tower was discovered when excavations commenced in 1983 and it’s believed this may have been the castle’s dungeon. It was common practise to place the dungeon under the gate tower and a similar arrangement can be seen at Trim castle. There is also a medieval garderobe or latrine at the end of a long corridor off to the western end of the tower. All rooms have been fitted out with 17th century furnishings for display purposes as well as a display depicting the archaeological excavations along with some of the items discovered there.
.
Timeline:
c.1213 - The Norman invaders look to consolidating their hard-won gains in the region by building a stronghold castle. This was initially of the standard motte and bailey type (www.iol.ie/~sligogrm/mottenbailey.htm ).
c.1287 - The motte and bailey structures were replaced with a large stone built gate tower together with curtain walls, wall towers and outhouses.
1315 - Castle granted to the Butlers who held it until the early 18th century. The Butlers later became the Earls of Ormond, an Anglo-Irish family of Norman descent and loyal to the English Crown, especially the Lancastrian and Tudor branches.
1332 - A major reconstruction of the castle was carried out and it’s during this period the stone curtain walls with towers were constructed and the gate tower raised to its full height of three storeys.
Early 17th century - gable ends and chimney stacks added to gate tower. This is the form in which it has survived.
1646 - During the Cromwellian Wars in Ireland, the Irish Chieftan, Eoin Roe O’Neill captured the castle and plundered it killing most of its inhabitants.
1650 - Roscrea Castle surrendered to the Cromwell’s forces and came under English control.
c.1690 - After the Williamite Wars in Ireland (1698-1691) the castle was vacated and fell into disuse. Roscrea Castle was not directly involved in any military action during this period and hence, its better state of survival. Other castles in Ireland such as those at Limerick and Athlone were not so fortunate and would have suffered bombardment and damage from artillery.
1703 - The Butlers (Earls of Ormond) sold the castle to the King’s Hospital of Kilmainham (Dublin).
1722 - The castle was purchased by John Damer.
1798 - The house and castle grounds sold. Became a military barracks housing some 110 soldiers.
1892 – Castle complex becomes a National Monument and is protected from further deterioration. Within the following years remedial work was carried out as well as fitting a new roof (compare postcard pictures of the castle in first reference).
1980’s - Modern buildings cleared from the castle yard and major restoration works by the Office of Public Works (OPW, now called Dúchas) commenced on the castle.
1983-1988 – Four separate archaeological excavations carried out at the castle. Published as Excavations at Roscrea Castle, edited by Conleth Manning and published by the Dublin Stationery Office 2003, ISBN 0 7557 1431 8 (pbk).
Today - Damer House, the castle grounds, garden and gate tower are open to the public, guided tours are available. Restoration works continue on both medieval D-shaped castle towers.
.
References:
www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/sports-recreation/pos... (An interesting article about Roscrea Castle with old postcard/picture images).
www.roscreaheritage.com/whattosee_roscrea.htm (Roscrea Heritage Society website – castle).
www.heritagetowns.com/roscrealarge2.shtml (A good panoramic view of the castle gate tower).
www.flickr.com/photos/45755268@N00/457165987/in/set-72157... (Another good view of the gate tower, this time from ground level. Notice the added gables and tall chimney stacks that were added during the early 17th century.)
www.geograph.ie/photo/224465 (Another view of the gate tower from lower Castle Street).
www.excavations.ie/Pages/Details.php?Year=&County=Tip... (Brief account of the archaeological excavations of Roscrea Castle).
www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/RoscreaHerita... (Heritage Ireland (Dúchas) website – Roscrea Heritage Centre including admission details). OK
.
Thank you for reading.
Stuart.