Fish-pond in Townparks (athy West Urban Ed)

On W edge of flat low-lying poorly drained land which forms part of the flood-plain of the River Barrow which flows 80m to the NE. The religious house (KD035-022006-) of the Crutched Friars founded by Richard de St. Michael in the thirteenth century is 520m to the SSE, also located on the W bank of the River Barrow. A 13th century hall house known as Woodstock Castle (KD035-021----) built by Richard de St. Michael stands on dry ground overlooking the River Barrow to SE and possibly a fording point over the river. A series of linear earthworks forming rectangular features in the poorly drained field to SE on the floodplain of the River Barrow may represent the remains of medieval fish-ponds associated with the adjoining hall house. Alternatively these rectilinear features which are visible on the ground and on aerial photographs may be the remains of post-medieval drainage channels. The 1656 Down Survey map of Kildare depicts a settlement (KD035-021003-) in the form a cluster of buildings standing on the W bank of the River Barrow between Woodstock Castle and the religious house (KD035-022006-) of the Crutched Friars (downsurvey.tcd.ie/down-survey-maps.php#c=Kildare). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 27 April 2016