Rathrobiin Castle in Ruins

Located on high ground with good extensive views. All that survives today are the ruins of a 19th-century house which was burnt in 1920 (Bence-Jones 1978, 240). To the NW of the big house there is rectangular hood moulding of late medieval date on the gable end of an outhouse. This is all that remains of Rathrobin castle which probably belonged to the 17th-century. According to Bence-Jones (1978, 240) Nicholas Biddulph built a house in 1694 near an old castle, this house was later replaced by the present 19th-century house, the ruins of which can still be seen. According to the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society (OHAS) in 1974 there was an inscribed stone (OF024-044003-) on this ruined building which read 'Rathrobin House built by Nicholas/son of John son of Francis Biddulph in the year 1694 bestowed by his direct descendant Middleton Biddulph In the year 1898' (OHAS file 1974). Rathrobin House appears to have been built from the ruins of earlier castle with this inscribed slab incoporated into the front wall of Rathrobin House. In 1974 they recorded that the remains of a tower house were incoporated into farmyard buildings (OHAS file 1974) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011