Tower — Millcastle

Situated on flat pasture-land with tower house (WM003-006----) 90m to NNW, River Glore 130m to N and possible mill race now dried up 105m to N as depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. Motte and bailey castle (WM003-070----) and wayside cross (WM003-069---) 290m to N. In 1837 the Ordnance Survey Letters recorded that in Millcastle there was ‘to be seen in good preservation the ruins of a castle (wm003-066----) which gave name to the townland. It is situated on the south side of the River Glore, and near stood originally a mill (WM003-066002-) which gave it name, but of that not even the site can now be pointed out. Not far from the ruin of Millcastle is a square tower evidently of the same age and style with the castle itself’ (O’Flanagan 1931, 103). Depicted as 'Tower' on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. Only the grass covered remains of a small rectangular-shaped tower (dims. 7m N-S; 5m E-W) survives. The building was rectangular in plan with its long axis aligned N-S and with gaps visible on E, W & NE sides. The wall footings this tower are now grassed over. The interior is lower than the surrounding field level. This may be possibly due to digging within tower where some loose stones are visible. There is very little indication of stone facing. At NE there is considerable mounding, and the ground falls away due to possible collapse. Wall footings are best preserved at S. To the NE of the tower is a large rectangular enclosure enclosed by an earthen bank with an external fosse at on the W. This bank is best preserved on the W & N, and is faint on the E & S. There are further earthworks or enclosures and banks visible between the tower and castle which are visible on Digital Globe aerial photographs. Some of these earthworks are quite irregular and are very poorly preserved. It is possible that this tower which was described in the OS Letters as being contemporaneous in date with the nearby tower house represents the angle tower on a bawn associated with Millcastle (WM003-006----). A water channel running from E-W was diverted from the River Glore via a cut in the SW side of the river 100m NNE of the tower. The water-channel or millrace is clearly visible on Digital Globe aerial photographs taken November 2011. Compiled by: Frank Coyne & Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 5 December 2016