Lanestown Castle in ruins — Newbridge Demesne

Known as Lanistown Castle, the tower house is situated in a low-lying position inside the entrance gates of Newbridge House. This is a three storey tower house (ext. dims. E-W 8.10m, 7.9m E-W) with stepped battlements marked by a cornice and a projecting angle tower in the SW. Formerly entered through a pointed arched doorway on the N side. There is a barrel vault over the ground floor, which is lit by a pointed arched opening (now blocked) on the W side. The SW spiral stairs provides access to chambers, with corbelled roofs, carried on squinces. There is a fireplace at first floor level and machicolation carries a flue to the second floor. The windows are plain in general except for a pointed arched window with sandstone jambs in the S wall of the second floor. Traces of a lofted building survive on the E side (Healy 1975, 25; Moylan 1961, 40). The E side of the building extends (c.1m) and supported a mural passage, which originally led into a garderobe. This is a two-storey structure with first floor supported on a pointed arched vault in the northern half. The S portion is damaged. First floor is accessed from a doorway in the NE blocked. There is a small loft area with a high pitched gable over it. A 1776 survey shows large 1 storey residence to east-used into the 19th century when Cobbe family purchased tenants (John Grace) interest in surrounding lands and demolished house in c.1820. John O'Donovan told by Charles Cobbe in 1830s that there were extensive buildings to north and east of castle prior to demolition. There is a bulge in the wall of the northeast corner stairwell at first floor; disintegration in masonry and substantial hole subsidence at south east corner. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 January 2015