Castle Forbes

Entrance gateway to the rose garden (13303007) at Castle Forbes, erected c. 1830, comprising a pair of dressed limestone gate piers (on square-plan) with cut stone coping over and a pair of decorative wrought-iron gates. Pair of carved stone armorial crests, each depicting an eagle and serpent with Latin inscription under, flank gateway to either side (north and south). Inscribed stone, dated 1567, located under the eagle to the south. Rose garden (on sub-rectangular plan) enclosed by rubble limestone walls. Located to the southwest of Castle Forbes (13303001).

The form and scale of this entrance creates a dramatic and impressive entry into the rose garden (13303007) at Castle Forbes. Of particular significance are the carved armorial eagles and serpents, which are of high artistic merit. The carved eagles apparently originally formed part of the armorial crest of the Earl of Tylney and were brought to Castle Forbes from Wanstead House in Essex, the home of the Earl of Tylney and one of the earliest and finest Palladian houses in England, built c. 1715 and demolished c. 1824 following the bankruptcy of the owner William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley, 4th Earl of Mornington. Most of the contents of Wanstead House, including the stone used in its construction, were auctioned off in May 1822 and it is likely that the Forbes family purchased/received the eagles at this time. The inscribed plaque under one of the eagles records the capture of ‘the great rebel Shane O’Nele in 1567’ (Shane O’Neill 1530 – 1567) and is of archaeological significance. This entrance forms part of a group of architecturally designed demesne structures associated with Castle Forbes, which together represents one of the most important elements of the architectural heritage of County Longford.