Not indciated — Naas East,naas West

According to Bradley et al (1986 vol. 4, 355-9), there are no references to town defences in Naas before 1415, when the King granted the provosts and burgesses the customs of the town for 20 years in order to fortify it. Further murage grants were made by parliament between 1451 and 1468; the latter being a grant for ten years to pay for the immediate walling of the town which was 'like to be destroyed or burned, unless it is walled'. Charters of 1568 and 1609 both granted tolls and customs to the Corporation to pay for the walling of the town, and a further grant was made by Charles 1 in 1629 'towards repairing of their buildings and walls'. De Burgh (1891-5, 319) refers to a feature mentioned in leases as 'The Barrier' or 'North Barrier', the precise location of which is unknown, but which he suggested may have been in the vicinity of St. David's Castle (KD019-030019-). Murtagh (1983-4, 356) suggests it may have formed an inner defensive line, while Healy (1984, 5) regarded it as the original N-boundary of the town. Bradley et al (1986 vol. 4, 358) are sceptical of either suggestion. While there are references to a number of gatehouses (see below), little physical evidence of the presence or course of a town wall is known. However, traces of a defensive ditch have been found. In 1996, archaeological excavation (Licence no. 96E0124: www.excavations.ie) identified part of a possible defensive ditch adjacent to Corban's Lane In 1998 an archaeological evaluation (Licence no. 98E0468: www.excavations.ie) at a site on Friary Road revealed portion of a linear ditch of substantial dimensions. Its location (ITM 689499 719587) and direction suggested it was part of the town defences. A probable continuation was found to the north when in 2002 during an archaeological assessment (Licence no. 02E1788 www.excavations.ie) in advance of a proposed development on a large site at Poplar Square/Friary Road. Eustace Castle (KD019-030014-) stood at the south-western corner of the site, and the presumed line of the town defences runs roughly northwest-southeast across the eastern portion of the site. A large ditch was found (IG 289570 219589 ITM 689496 719634) and although not fully exposed it was 4-5m wide and 0.9 - c. 1.4m deep and 3m wide towards the base. No finds were recovered from the fill of the ditch, but it was interpreted as forming part of the town defences. Conversely in 1997, archaeological monitoring (Licence no. 97E0151: www.excavations.ie) of the mechanical excavation of pipe trench cuttings along the length of the east-west Canal Street revealed no material of archaeological significance, or any evidence of a stone construction which might suggest the route of a suggested town wall or earthen rampart crossing the site from south to north. In 1999, archaeological testing (Licence no. 99E0111: www.excavations.ie) at the site of a proposed rear extension to a premises on the Dublin Road (ITM 689456 719685) revealed a number of sherds of late medieval pottery together with a wall which had been truncated both by the foundation trench of the existing cottage and a service-pipe trench. The wall, although only 1.5m long, was at least 1.1m wide, although its exact width could not be measured as it appeared to continue into the adjacent property. Two rough courses of stone were revealed, standing to a maximum height of 0.43m. It was interpreted as the basal remains of the town wall defences and was subsequently preserved in situ. An alternative interpretation might associate this wall with the North Gate, which is believed to have stood in this general area. The town's defences also comprised the following elements: 1. 'North Gate' (IG 289513 219615 ITM 689444 719645) Not indicated on the OS 6-inch mapping. Located on the N boundary of the town defences possibly at the S end of the Dublin road, but its exact location is unknown (Bradley et al. 1986 vol. 4, 357). 2. 'Watergate Castle' (IG 289575 219442 ITM 689506 719472) Not indicated on OS 6-inch mapping. Both de Burgh (1891-5, 320) and Murtagh (1983-4, 357) regard the Watergate Castle, recorded in the Civil Survey (1654-6), as a domestic fortified house, but Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 4, 357) state it is almost certainly a gatehouse at the Water Gate, probably on Friary Street at the E of the town. 3. 'Corban's Gate' (IG 289353 219181 ITM 689284 719211) was located on the E boundary of the town defences, probably at the junction of Corban's Lane and Church Lane (Bradley et al. 1986 vol. 4, 357). 4. 'Green Gate' (IG 289228 219136 ITM 689159 719166) was located on the S end of the town boundary where the angle of the building on the corner projects onto the footpath of the Green (Bradley et al. 1986 vol. 4, 357). 5. 'West Gate' (IG 289144 219178 ITM 689075 719208) was located on the W boundary of the town defences, near New Row (Bradley et al. 1986 vol. 4, 358). 6. 'Iago's Gate' (IG 289450 219683 ITM 689381 719713) was located on the N boundary of the town defences, but its exact location is unknown (Bradley et al. 1986 vol. 4, 357). Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011