What is recorded here

Castle Townparks stood on a slight rise at the south end of Wexford, perhaps marking an older Viking strongpoint. King John is traditionally credited with building it, although a door-keeper was already recorded there in 1185. Cromwell's forces bombarded it in October 1649, forcing a quick surrender and opening the town to capture. The medieval keep and its four towers later disappeared beneath barracks built in the 1720s, leaving no visible trace of the castle that once guarded the town.

The castle at Wexford is located on a slight rise at the S end of the town, and it may have been built on the site of a Viking strongpoint (Hadden 1968, 13). It is traditionally thought to have been built by King John, but it was certainly in existence by 1221, although a door-keeper of the castle is mentioned in 1185. A list of its constables from 1311 to 1590 survives (Hore 1900-11, vol. 5, 65). The castle was bombarded by Cromwell's forces in October 1649 and quickly surrendered, which led to the capture of the town (ibid. 293-304). The castle is described (ibid. 63-70) as having been a rectangular keep with four towers attached. It was converted to a military barracks in the 1720s (Colfer 1990-1, 18-21), and these buildings still occupy the site, but no features of a medieval castle are evident. 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: 19 December, 2012

The castle at Townparks is traditionally attributed to King John and is thought to have been built in the early 13th century, likely as part of English expansion in Ireland. Its location on a former Viking strongpoint highlights its strategic significance in controlling the region.

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