Castle

Situated on a broad, low hill. The small manor of Ballyell, occupying perhaps half of Kiscoran parish, was held by the Codd family for a quarter a knight’s fee from the Valence property into the 15th century (Brooks 1950, 122). By the 1640s Nicholas Codd holds only 36 acres at Coddsballyell (Simington 1953, 304) and the Codds are not connected with the castle at Hill. References to the Hay family date from 1345 when Adrian Fitz-Jones Hay of Kilscoran is recorded (Jeffrey 1979, 20). The castle is marked on the Down Survey (1656-8) barony map. Mathew Hay held 98 acres at Hill in 1640 (Simington 1953, 304). For the Down Survey barony map see this web-page accessed on 12 Dec. 2013 (http://downsurvey.tcd.ie/down-survey-maps.php#bm=Forth&c=Wexford) The property later passed to the Nunn family (Jeffrey 1979, 20) and the castle became incorporated into the NW corner of a later house. It was described as a tower ‘about 50 feet (c. 15m) high with six modern windows inserted into the N side’ (OSFM 1940). It was probably a tower house (Hore 1925, 17-18), which was pulled down c. 1960. It is within the circular moated site (WX048-023002-). 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: 7 January 2014

Hillcastle was held by the Codd family from the Valence estate as a subtenant for a quarter of a knight’s fee into the 15th century. Its importance lies in its association with the Codd family and the broader medieval landholding structure in the Kiscoran parish area.