Castle (in ruins) — Baptistgrange

The Civil Survey (1654-6) refers to 'an old broken stump of a Castle with an old broken Bawne and that at St. John babtistsgrange' which were in the possession of Patrick Nettervill, son of Lord Viscount Nettervill, proprietor by lease from the Crown (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 193). In the 16th century Baptistgrange, also known as Athforth or Athfath, is described as having a fortilage or castle, with a hall, etc. 51 acres and 12 cottages, leased in 1541 to the countess of Ormond at £4 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1988, 216). On E facing slope on a slight natural rise in undulating pasture and tillage, c. 6m S of Baptistgrange church (TS077-008001-), with earthworks (TS077-008----) to E and NE. Castle consists of a length of walling running N-S, composed of limestone rubble, roughly coursed. Possible angle at SW. Straight joint at S end of wall, masonry has collapsed to E and W of this joint. W face of walling intact. E face collapsed out. Average height 0.8m. To the W of this wall there is another wall face (limestone), 3.45m from the E section of walling which rises to a max. height of 1.74m. Built on top of this is a modern stone wall (Wth 0.74m). It is running parallel to the wall section. The W side of this wall (Wth 1.5m) acts as a revetment for a build-up of earth. Lump of collapsed masonry (L 4m, Wth 1.3m wide, H c. 1.1m lying on its side) lies 7m E of surviving length of wall. The OS Letters recorded the remains of the castle as consisting of 'a stone arch running north and south, and measuring sixteen feet six inches [5m] in length by nine feet eight inches [c.3m] in breadth, being eight and a half feet [2.6m] in height. At southwest corner the arch is broken down. A portion of the east wall of the castle, twenty feet [6m] in height and four feet nine inches [1.44] in thickness, remains at southeast angle...There is a clump of the wall broken off, lying at the east side of the arch' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 2, 143). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of revised upload: 10 December 2014