Kilteel Castle — Kilteel Upper

A National Monument (No. 275), standing at the W edge of the Kilteel Early Christian and medieval ecclesiastical complex (KD020-007001- to KD020-007012-), around which the Pale Ditch (KD020-008----) also runs, and associated both with a Preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers (KD020-007003-) and the subsequent defence of the Pale. On a narrow terrace near the top of the moderate, SE-facing slope of a minor valley through which a small stream flows SW, and overlooked by slightly higher ground WSW-N-NE. A probable 15th century, rectangular, five-storied, roofed structure (ext. dims. L 8.5m NE-SW; Wth 5.5m; av. wall T 1.05m) comprises four floor levels above a barrel-vaulted (NE-SW axis) basement with a second vault over fourth-floor level. Built of randomly coursed limestone blocks and flags with well-dressed quoins and voussoirs, it has a projecting D-shaped stairs tower (ext. diam. c. 3.2m; int. diam 1.6m) at the SW end of the NW sidewall, and is adjoined at SW by a gatehouse (KD020-006001-). The basement (int. dims. L 6.4m NE-SW; Wth 3.65m) is entered through a probably later doorway in the SW gable wall, and has a low, vaulted ceiling (H 2.1m). Lit by only two loops, with steeply plunging sills, flanking a probably inserted and now robbed-out fireplace in the NE gable wall, the basement contains wall-cupboards in the NW, SE and SW walls, and a small, stone drain near the SW end of the SE wall. A narrow (Wth 0.5m), square-headed doorway immediately to the left (NW) of the main doorway gives access to the spiral stairs in the projecting tower. A loop near ground level looks SW across the adjoining gate arch, and six more loops light the tower; a second near ground level and one at the top look NW, while in between, four loops in a vertical line look WNW. Plain, square-headed doorways give access off the stairs to the upper floors, and, from a cap house on the stairs tower, to wall-walk level. A doorway between first and second-floor levels gives access to the first floor of the adjoining gate house which is also accessed through doorways in the SW gable wall of the main building at second and third-floor levels. Floor levels are indicated by corbels in the NW and SE sidewalls and each floor is lit by plain, rectangular windows in large embrasures in each wall (some with window-seating), those in the NE and SE walls rising in a vertical line, one above the other. There are fireplaces and wall-cupboards on each floor, except the fourth. A former window in the NE gable wall on first-floor level was broken out to form a doorway, possibly to give access to a wall walk of a formerly adjoining bawn (KD020-006002-). The low, stone-slabbed, A-roof, the guttering and the crenelations have been restored and chimney stacks on the NW, NE and SE walls have been lowered and capped below crenelation height. In 2005, an archaeological assessment (Licence No. 05E0681: 'Excavations 2005' 2008, (No. 761) 186) and subsequent monitoring of topsoil removal in 2006 (Licence No. 06E2475, C159: 'Excavations 2006' 2009, (No. 965) 246) at a single-house development c. 80m SW of the monument uncovered some 20 sherds of pottery, 14 of which were medieval in date, including Leinster cooking ware, Dublin-type coarseware and Dublin-type fine ware, with the remainder being post-medieval date in date. (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 408; Harbison 1975, 123) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011