Castle

Traces of earlier structure, possibly castle, incorporated into E end of Marybrook House. Entrance front of house (N) has shadow mark in plaster of pointed ope towards its E end. Remains of limestone pointed door surround with chamfered edge, of 15th/16th-century appearance, now outside SE corner of house, may have been removed from blocked pointed ope; Bowman (1934, 411) records that it was formerly set up as arch in garden (H 6ft 2in; Wth 3ft 6in); now lying on ground. East gable of house (L 6.7m; T 0.88m) has inserted narrow sash window at E end of ground floor; three corbels project from E wall above window at 1st-floor level, one situated at corner; appears to be remains of corner machicolation. Slight base batter at base of E wall; probably rebuilt above 1st-floor level. Internal dividing wall within W half of house (T 1.22m at ground level; T 1.12m at 1st-floor level) may be part of earlier structure. Down Survey (1655-6) barony map shows house here. Present house depicted on 1842 OS 6-inch map; 19th century in appearance. Main block (long axis E-W) is 3-storey over basement, gable-ended with brick chimneys on gable ends. Second 3-storey block (long axis N-S) abuts main block at N end of W gable. Entrance front (N) of 3 bays with central rectangular door ope and rectangular fanlight; sash windows are brick-arched. 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