Castle (in ruins) — Brownscastle

References date certainly from the early 17th century when a castle, possibly not this structure, was owned by David Synnott (Jeffrey 1979, 99 100). According to the Civil Survey (1654-6) David Synnott owned 180 acres at Brownscastle and the castle is described as ‘a small pile of stone out of repair’ (Simington 1953, 82). It is situated on rock outcrop overlooking the E-W Corrock river c. 60m to the N, and a defile through the S escarpment of the steep-sided valley is immediately to the W. The defile now has a roadway leading to Taghmon, c. 2 km to the S, but an old roadway winds up the escarpment from the NE and passes immediately W of the monument before turning SE. This is a small two storey house (int. dims. 8.1m N-S; 2.75m E-W) constructed of shale with no dressed stone. There is a doorway (Wth 1.25m) towards the N end of the W wall, and there was probably a similar doorway at the same point on the E wall. There are two small slit windows in the long walls and one in the end walls at the ground floor. The joists for the ceiling are set directly into the long walls, but there are arches (D c. 1m) attached to the inner faces of the N and S walls, spanning the building. The first floor has two narrow lights on the E wall and one each on the other walls, that on the W wall with a horizontal slit beneath it. There is no evidence of a fireplace or of a stairs. There W doorway opens into a D-shaped enclosure (int. dims 5.9m N-S; 5.7m E-W) defined by masonry walls (T 0.3-0.45m; H 1.5m) with four small lights surviving and an opening (Wth 2.45m), which may be damage, at NW. See the attached section from the Down Survey (1656-8) parish map (N at top) reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland (Ms 725) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 7 November, 2012