Peppards Castle

Located just off the crest of the E-facing slope of a low ridge with a N-S stream c. 540m to the E and a W-E stream c. 280m the S. The coast is c. 2.3km to the E. The Peppard family are associated with Ireland from the 13th century but there are no historical references to them in Wexford before the 16th century. In 1550 Walter Peppard of Kilkea, Co. Kildare, was granted a lease of the precinct of the suppressed monastery of Glascarrig (WX017-017001-) (Hore 1900-11, vol. 6, 147), which is c. 4.5km to the NE. He may have acquired or built the castle at Peppardstown then, but neither the Peppards nor their castle are recorded in the Civil Survey (1654-6) (Simington (1953, 41-3). Parts of the present 18th century house, which has a five-bay, two storey, W-facing front, are thought to incorporate an older building, probably a tower house, the only indication being the thickness of some walls (c. 1.5m) in the return at the back (E) side. (Jeffrey 1979, 192) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 15 June, 2012

Peppards Castle was associated with the Peppard family, who were active in Ireland from the early 12th century. The site is remembered for its strategic location and as part of the medieval Anglo-Norman expansion in Ireland.