Cregg Castle (in Ruins) — Cregg North

On top of a limestone cliff, overlooking Blackwater River to S. Rectangular 6-storey tower (15.5m E-W; 9.7m N-S) with rounded corners (see plan in Cotter 1994, 47-54); tower shows signs of having been renovated in 18th/19th century. Entrance on ground floor via pointed-arch door, N of centre in W wall, rebated internally and externally, with yett-holes in north jamb and at apex of arch; iron yett hanging on outside of door may be original; wooden door inside probably not. Lobby inside covered by vault with murder hole. From lobby lintelled door leads N to vaulted guard room (2.3m E-W; 1.4m N-S), and pointed-arch door leads S to passage from which short flight of steps leads to base of spiral stairs in SW corner of tower (rising to 5th-floor level) and second pointed-arch door leads E, via short flight of steps, down to main ground-floor chamber. Main ground-floor chamber (8.5m E-W; 5.4m N-S) lit by window in splayed embrasure with segmental wicker-centred vaults, in E and S walls; lights missing and both partially blocked. Similar embrasure in W wall has cross-shaped gun loop facing into lobby, now blocked. Pointed-arch door to main 1st-floor chamber from stairs, now blocked; chamber roofed by bluntly pointed wicker-centred vault (long axis E-W); blocked window embrasures in E and S walls. Pointed-arch door gives access from stairs to 1st-floor mural chamber in W wall; opening in floor is murder hole; lintelled slit window in N wall plunging gun loop at base, covering entrance door. Damaged lintelled door in N wall leads to secondary chamber, lit by window with single ogee-headed light in N wall; unusually large wall press (D 1.7m; Wth 0.97m) in E wall has iron hinges and bolt socket. Main 2nd-floor chamber (9.2m E-W; c. 5m N-S) entered from stairs via pointed-arch door; fireplace at W end of N wall spanned by flat arch with joggled voussoirs resting on tapered corbels at each end, arch supported by inserted masonry pier. Window to E of fireplace has rectangular light divided by two mullions, covered by hood moulding; fragments of similar window survive in E wall; window with single ogee-headed light at E end of S wall; central window in S wall has double ogee-headed light, with hood moulding; splayed gun loop with circular shot-hole on E side of light. Lintelled door to W of latter embrasure gives access down short flight of steps to mural passage (6m E-W; 1m N-S) in S wall, with garderobe at E end; passage lit by two slit windows, one with ogee-headed light. At N end of W wall of main chamber lintelled door leads to mural chamber in W wall (4.7m N-S; 2.1m E-W), lit by slit windows with single ogee-headed lights in N and W walls; blocked embrasure in NW corner. Main 3rd-floor chamber entered from stairs via pointed-arch door; chamber covered by wicker-centred vault (long axis E-W). Lit by lintelled slit window in N wall, wide window embrasure in E wall missing its light but fragment of hood moulding survives overhead; blocked ope in S wall probably third window. Vaulted mural chamber in W wall entered from stairs via lintelled door; lit by lintelled slit window in N wall and window with single round-headed light in W wall. Mural passage in S wall, between 3rd- and 4th-floor levels, entered from stairs via lintelled door; passage lit by three lintelled slit windows; garderobe at E end. Pointed-arch door leads from stairs to main 4th-floor chamber (7m N-S; 9m E-W); fireplace in centre of N wall spanned by flat arch of sandstone voussoirs; fragment of supporting chamfered jamb survives on E side. Flat-arched window embrasures, with triple ogee-headed lights, opposite each other near E end of N and S walls; window with double ogee-headed light in centre of E wall, with single lintelled light at W end of N wall, and with single ogee-headed light, in wide embrasure, at W end of S wall. Latter has lintelled door in W ingoing of embrasure leading to straight stairs rising to access wall-walk atop W wall. Mural chamber in W wall, at 4th-floor level, entered through lintelled door from spiral stairs. Chamber has fireplace in W wall with flat arch of joggled voussoirs supported by corbels at each end, arch supported by inserted masonry pier; dome-roofed bread oven to N of fireplace. Chamber lit by lintelled slit window in W and N walls; gutter, at floor level, exits through N wall via broken slopstone. Spiral stairs broken above this level. Doors from stairs to main 5th-floor chamber, and to mural chamber in W wall, both missing; dividing wall between both chambers demolished to floor level. Former floor of main chamber carried by corbels on N and S walls. Fireplace in W wall of mural chamber, lintel collapsed; lintelled slit window to S of fireplace. Wall walk interrupted by chimney stack atop N wall; low parapet survives on W, N and E walls but crenellations entirely gone. Gable on W wall intact but E gable incomplete; gables inside wall walk. Remains of bartizan atop NE corner entered directly from wall walk. Corbels high over doorway formerly supported box machicolation. Two garderobe shafts exit near base of S wall. Cregg originally a Condon holding, acquired in 14th century by Roches (Nicholls 1993, 186), who later built this tower; forfeited by Roches after 1641-2 rebellion (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 2, 269-71). 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 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 9/1972).