What is recorded here

King James' tower stood within Duncannon Fort until the early 1900s, marking a castle that probably predates the bastioned structure. John Itchingham resisted arrest there in 1580, possibly while trading with pirates, turning a private stronghold into a seat of open defiance. The tower has vanished, but the promontory still juts into the estuary, preserving the shape of a place where law and rebellion collided.

Located on a NE-SW promontory (H c. 20m) jutting out into the estuary of the Barrow/Nore/Suir and within the parade-ground of Duncannon Fort (WX044-015001-). A castle, probably a tower house, with a wall cutting off the end of the promontory is depicted on what are probably late 16th-century maps with the bastioned fort already established (Hore 1900-11, vol. 4, 2 Pl.). John Inglysshe had possession of Duncannon in 1541, and it was granted to Sir Osborne Itchingham in 1545 and to Sir Nicholas White, the Master of the Rolls, in 1569 (ibid. vol. 4, 4). The castle is first mentioned in 1580 when John Itchingham, who was probably trading with pirates there, resisted arrest by the sheriff (ibid. vol. 3, 148-9). A circular tower of this castle survived into the early 20th century (ibid. vol. 4, 5-6, Pl.) and was known as King James’ tower, but it is no longer extant. (Sinnott 1964-5, 64-5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 17 June, 2013

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