Settlement deserted — medieval in Lea

Medieval settlement in the vicinity of Lea Castle (LA005-006-) known as the 'new town of Leys'. In 1279 John de Saundford, Escheator of Ireland, accompanied Robert de Ufford, Justiciary of Ireland, as far as 'the new vill of Leys' to resist the Irish of Offaly, then in rebellion against the King; he was accompanied by 38 sutlers, 70 horses and 171 retainers; for which he was allowed his expenses. He remained at Lea from February 9th to the 12th of that month (Cal. doc. Ire., 529). In 1297 John FitzThomas (FitzGerald, Baron of Offaly) received payment from the Treasurer of Ireland for ' fortifying the said John's Castle of Leghe'. In 1307 the O'Connors of Offaly, destroyed the castle of Geashill, and on St. Thomas's Eve burned the town of Ley; they laid siege to the castle there (Fitzgerald 1904, 330-33). Linear earthworks to the S and W of the castle may be the remains of the medieval deserted settlement. Alternatively the linear earthworks to the S of the Castle may be drainage ditches of 18th and 19th century date as the land is low lying and is liable to flooding from the River Barrow. Bradley suggested that the 'new town of Leys' was a reference to the medieval settlement around Dunamase Castle, however it is more likely that this settlement was associated with Lea Castle rather than Dunamase. It has long been suggested that the borough of Dunamase (LA013-051001-) is to be indentified with the Newtown of Leys, frequently mentioned in thirteenth and fourteenth century documents (Orpen 1911-20, iii, 104). This identification is not certain however and other places in the county such as Lea Castle (LA005-006-) have been suggested. The earliest reference to the Newtown of Leys as a borough occurs in 1232 when it was listed as part of the dower offered by Earl Richard Marshall to the countess of Pembroke (Cal. doc. Ire., no. 1950). In 1292 the Roll of Receipts of the Irish Exchequer records 'Stephen Kytt, by pledge of the burgesses and commonalty of the new vill of Leys, because he did not prosecute' (Fitzgerald 1904, 333). An inquisition of 1323 recorded that the manor of Dunamase (LA013-052----) was waste and only a few burgages remained in the Newtown of Leys (Otway-Ruthven 1968, 252). The most likely location for a medieval settlement of Lea would be in the fields to the S of the castle between the castle and the church (LA005-007-). In 1688, Sir Patrick Trant obtained a patent from the state for holding a fair at Old Lea on Whit-Monday, this fair was discontinued and was possibly moved to the nearby town of Portarlington (Mason 1814, 530). Close to the junction of the boreen to the churchyard (LA005-007001-) with the public road near the castle (LA005-006-), formerly stood a huge ancient ash tree, which is shown, with a view of the castle, in Sandby's 'Views in Great Britain and Ireland' 1778; it then measured 33 feet in circumference. In 1825-6 the following was recorded about the settlement 'to this castle formerly appertained a town of some repute, having the usual privileges of a market and fairs. The fortunes of the town of Lea rose and decayed with the neighbouring fortress. The last transaction of importance, as regards this place occurred in 1642, when it was seized by the party in rebellion, but was speedily relieved by Lord Lisle. In the former market place is an ash tree, of unusual growth, traditionally said to have been planted in commemoration of that event. The girth of this tree is twenty-nine feet, but, owing to the injuries inflicted by a storm, not many years past, this noble ash is now in a state of rapid decay' (Brewer 1826, 100). In 1814 it was recorded that 'a patron [was] held every Whit-Monday at Old Lea, where there is a number of tents pitched about the old tree, and replenished with good cheer for the accommodation of both sexes, who resort thither to pass the day in dancing on the green sod, and other rural amusements' (Mason 1814, 529-30). Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 2 March 2015