What is recorded here

King John’s Castle never appeared on early maps, yet surveyors drew curving scars on the ground before housing buried them. The river still flows a hundred metres away, carrying water past foundations that may never have existed.

On a height in the SE section of the town, c. 100m NE of the River Ara. Corporation housing and warehouses constructed since 1954 currently occupy the location. This castle is not indicated on the 1st (1840) ed. 6-inch OS map and on the 25-inch map it is designated as ‘King John’s Castle (Supposed site of)’ with hachures depicting the SE portion of an inner and outer curving scarp, with a suggestion that the scarp continues on both sides northward beneath modern property boundaries. There are no known historical references to this castle and as there are no visible remains at ground level it is not possible to ascertain the nature or date of this castle. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 09 June 2014

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.