site of Castle — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Castle Bridgetown South stood on a low plain beside the Bridgetown river, owned by William Browne of Mulrankin and later occupied by Nicholas Rowe and Ursula during the 1641 rebellion. It disappeared by the 1830s, leaving only a marked pasture where St David's Well still lies nearby. The absence is not empty; it is a room whose walls were removed, preserving the shape of the people who argued, bled and forgot it.

Situated on a level, low-lying landscape with the E-W Bridgetown river c. 130m to the N. According to the Civil Survey (1654-6) a castle and 60 acres at Bridgetown was owned by William Browne of Mulrankin (WX047031----) in 1640 (Simington 1953, 155), but it was mortgaged to Nicholas Rowe for £50 (Jeffrey 1979, 68-9). During the 1641 rebellion it was occupied by Rowe and his wife Ursula who were robbed by the Brownes of Mulrankin castle (Browne and Whelan 1987, 470). The castle was removed in 1830s according to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 203), and according to Lewis (1837, vol. 2, 423) it was associated with the Keating family. The site of the castle is marked on the 1839 and 1940 eds of the OS 6-inch map. There are no visible remains of a structure at ground level in pasture. The site of St David's Well (WX047-027----) is c. 25m to the SE. Archaeological testing (06E0014) just to the N and E failed to produce any related material (McLoughlin 2010), and testing (08E0647) c. 80m to the NE had a similar result (O’Neill 2011). 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: 14 October, 2013

William Browne of Mulrankin owned a castle and 60 acres at Bridgetown South in the mid-17th century, as recorded in the Civil Survey of 1654-6. The site is remembered for its historical association with Browne and as an example of early landholding patterns in the region.

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.