Castle

References date from 1640 when a ‘castle in good repair’ and 180 acres at Hilltown were owned by William Esmond, together with 190 acres in Ballymitty and 180 acres in Ballyknock (Simington 1953, 89). It is situated on a level landscape. This is a rectangular house of three storeys with an entrance tower offset to the E and S. The rectangular entrance tower (ext. dims. 7.8m NW-SE; 4.35m NE-SW) with granite quoins survives complete to the simple crenellations, although the doorway cannot be identified and there are no internal stairs or other features surviving. The stairs tower has four floors with many inserted features, but only one slit window and two double- light windows are original. The house (ext. dims 12.8m NE-SW; 7.45m NW-SE) has three floors surviving to the top of the second storey windows, with a machicolation at the SW angle. Four rectangular windows, two with double-lights, and all with square hood-mouldings are the only original windows at the first floor. One window on the ground floor and three double-light and two single-light windows at the second floor are also original. There is a fireplace at the first floor in the NE wall and projecting chimney flues are visible at the second floor on the SW and NW walls. The upper floors of the house were supported on corbels in the NW and SE walls, and there is no evidence of vaulting, garderobes, stairs, or of the original doorways between the house and the services tower. Both the house and the tower had gabled roofs and they probably date to the later 16th century (O’Callaghan 1980 81, 33 4). They are now situated in a farm complex, and the cropmarks of a relict field system (WX041-031001-) that can be seen in the field to the NW probably relate to the House. Archaeological testing (10E0386) c. 70m to the NE failed to produce any related material (Stafford 2013). 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: 19 March, 2013

William Esmond owned Castle Hilltown and 180 acres there in 1640; its location and associated lands indicate it was a significant local estate in west County By. The castle is remembered for its documented state of "good repair" in the 17th century, suggesting ongoing use and regional importance.