House — fortified house in Letterkenny

During the seventeenth century plantation of Donegal, 1000 acres in Letterkenny was granted to Captain Crawford. Near to his house Sir George Merbury 'hath erected a market town called Letterkenny, consisting of 50 thatched houses whereof 13 have clay and stone walls, and one watermill (DG053-044)' (Treadwell 1954-5, 41). This settlement was described in the 1654 Civil Survey of Donegal as 'there is therein a Towne (DG053-042) called Litterkenny wch hath a Markett every ffryday,and two faires in the yeare wth a Larg dwelling Stone house (DG053-042002-) haveing a Bawne (DG053-042001-) of fower fla[n]ckers a fair Church (DG043-043001-) And a bridg[e] (DG053-042004-) at the End of the sd. towne over the sd. River of Swolly'. This seventeenth century plantation bawn containing a large dwelling house appears to have been located near to the site of Conwal C of I church. Castle Street running S from the C of I church down towards the Market Square originally ran down to the castle which appears to have been located near the S angle of Mount Southwell. On the latest ed. OS 6-inch maps there is an area marked as Castle Gardens and Fort Well. These two placenames appear to mark the location of the seventeenth century house and bawn. There is a large two storey house beside Castle Gardens which may have been built on the site of the castle. There is a large stone wall enclosing this house which may have been part of the 17th century plantation castle. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 19 July 2010