What is recorded here

Cloister Wall still stands twenty-one metres long beside the road, marking the lost Johnstown castle owned by the Cistercian Abbey of Fermoy. Its limestone rubble and put-log holes suggest a medieval bawn, while a cut stone hidden in a modern bungalow wall preserves the curve of a late medieval window. The castle changed from abbey possession to human ownership, yet the wall remains visible beside the road where the greater building has vanished.

Stretch of wall (L 21m; H 2.8m) on N side of road c. 120m NW of Johnstown Cross Roads appears medieval in character: built of limestone rubble construction with numerous put-log holes. Possibly part of a bawn wall, but known locally as 'Cloister Wall'. Fragment of cut stone built into recent wall at rear of nearby bungalow appears to be part of late medieval ogee-headed window. Down Survey (1655-6) barony map shows castle in 'Johnstowne' townland in this general area. Possessions of Cistercian Abbey of Fermoy at time of Dissolution included 'a castle' and 300 acres of land at 'Johnstowne' (White 1943, 145); leased c. 1552 to Humfrey Warren (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 3, 95), subsequently granted, in 1577, to Theobald Roche of Cregg (ibid., vol. 2, 270). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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