Black Castle (in ruins)

Situated on the E bank of the N-S River Slaney with the stream c. 20m to the W. It is thought to have been built by the Brownes of Mulrankin (WX047 031----) and it is described as 'in ruins' and the property of William Browne in 1641, together with 500 acres in Brownswood and Crefoge (Simington 1953, 72). The remains consist of parts of the E (L 12.1m; T 2.35m) and S (L 6.5m) walls surviving to the second storey. The vaulted ground floor has a lintelled alcove for three gun-loops at the SE angle and a damaged embrasure in the E wall has two gun-loops. At the first floor there is a destroyed light in the E wall and an oubliette is contained in the masonry of the vault at the SE angle with a single gun-loop in the wall above. Two corbels to support the ceiling of the first floor survive in the E wall, and there are fragments of window embrasures at the second floor in the E and S walls. See the attached section from the Down Survey (1656-8) parish map (N at right) reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland (Ms 725) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 11 July 2012

Built by the Brownes of Mulrankin in the medieval period, the Black Castle in Brownswood is remembered as a historic family seat now in ruins, reflecting the region's feudal past and the legacy of the Brown family in the area.