What is recorded here

Ballytobin House probably occupies the castle site of the Tobins in County Kilkenny, where a draw-well hidden between residences still belongs to the land’s memory. Tradition says David Tobin cast valuable articles into that well during a hasty flight before Cromwell’s army arrived. The urgent clang of coin or silver falling through dark water may have echoed in the stones, turning a ordinary house into a place where lost treasure waits beneath forgotten soil.

The Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Kells, Co. Kilkenny (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) depicts a castle (KK026-031001-) and two houses (KK026-031002-; KK026-031003-) in the 17th-century townland of Ballaghtobbin and Croghtabeg. This corresponds with the modern townland of Ballytobin. According to Carrigan (1905, 44-5), Ballytobin House, 'probably occupies the site of the old residence or castle of the Tobins. About 200yrds [c. 180m] north of this there is, or was, till a few years ago, an old residence of the Hall family. Between both houses tradition locates a draw-well, the exact position of which, however is unknown, into which the Tobins cast several articles of value on the occasion of their hasty flight from Ballytobin at the approach of Cromwell and his army. In 1653, Ballaghtobin and Croghtabegg, the property of David Tobin, were granted to Ralph Hall and William Baker'. It seems likely that Carrigan is referring to the castle and one of the houses depicted on the Down Survey map. It is possible that the castle and/or 17th-century house are incorporated in the fabric of Ballytobin House or are located in close proximity to it. See attached: KK026-031001-_01 extract from Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Kells, Co. Kilkenny (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 11 May 2022

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