Cross-slab in Townparks (roscrea Par.)

Situated in the town of Roscrea on rising ground with the River Bunnow immediately to the E and a church, round tower and friary nearby (TN012-010----). A timber castle (TN012-01008-), referred to in 1245 as a moat and wooden tower (mote et britagium) (Cal. doc. Ire vol. 1, no. 2760), was built at Roscrea by the king's council in 1213 (Cunningham 1987, 71-4). It was built on church property and, according to an inquisition of 1245, the bishop stopped the work and threatened to excommunicate the justiciar and his men. However, he was persuaded to allow them to continue with the promise of compensation (Cal. doc. Ire vol. 1, no. 2760) and, throughout the remainder of the 13th century, there are many references in official administration documents to the castle (Cal. doc. Ire vols. 1-3, passim). Between 1278 and the early 1280s there are references to building works at Roscrea when the castle (TN012-01007-) was rebuilt in stone under the direction of John de Lydyard (PRI rep. DK 36th, 47; Cal. doc. Ire vol. 2, nos. 1570, 2336; vol. 3, no. 169). A doorway at the W end of the N wall of the second-floor chamber of the castle gives access to a mural passage which leads to a spiral staircase in the NW angle which leads up to the wall-walk. Also accessed off the same passage is a flight of stairs, which leads down to the protruding SW angle tower. Here there is a doorway from which the wall-walk of the W curtain wall was accessed. A reused Early Christian sandstone cross-inscribed slab was used as a door lintel in this mural passage. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 22 September 2008