What is recorded here

Beckfield, County Laois, holds a buried castle and street beneath ordinary farm land. The name changed from Ballyawley after a woman named Beck or Rebeccca Flood, while John Fitzpatrick still paid for two hearths there in 1665. What is missing is not the castle but the life that stopped being repeated.

Unlocated castle within townland. Described by Carrigan as a 'Large square rath (LA028-012001-) in Beckfield 20 or 30 perches west of this bridge. It is partly square, and has a double rampart on the north and west sides, the outer one being high and very wide and massive. A low irregular enclosure within the rath marks the site of some ancient building (LA028-012002-). Outside is 'the Old Street', where there are extensive foundations of buildings (LA028-074002-) beneath the surface of the field. A castle or large residence is entered here on the Down Survey Map of 1657.' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 354) Townland originally called Ballyawley and was changed to Beckfield after a spinster lady named Beck or Rebeccca Flood who built Beckfield House more than a century ago. In 1665 John Fitzpatrick paid hearth-money for two hearths in Ballyawly. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

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