Archaeological Features of lynch's castle
|
Sweetman discusses the different types of tower castles, with tower castles being most distinguishable of an eastern-western division of Ireland. Tower castles that were built in the eastern part were much smaller, usually three to four storeys high. The incentive to build castles particularly in the Pale where King Henry VI had granted £10 in 1429 to ‘every man who wished to build a castle within ten years’.
In fact there were two Lynch’s Castles built in Summerhill, with the first castle being converted into a Georgian Ice-House by the Langfords, who were later occupants of the Lynch’s Estate. Part of the older castle can be seen south of the present building. Of the almost 50 examples of tower houses in County Meath, most show little or no differences in their plans and layouts. They are typical examples of tower castles in the Pale in fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The architecture of Lynch’s Castle, in particular the windows and doorways, suggest that this castle was occupied from as early as the start of the 17th century to the mid-19th century. The remains of the second Lynch’s Castle indicates that the castle was a four-storey building, including the ground floor. The upper floors of the castle still remain with the second floor being blocked off from the outside wall. The exterior walls are almost fully intact, with some parts damaged from weather and erosion. Despite this the castle still stands very proudly. Icehouse/1st Lynch's Castle The slideshow shows the former Lynch’s Castle which was converted to a Georgian Ice-House. This was a place where people who butchered their own meat would leave their meat in a cool underground rock bounded house to store it for later use. |
Bawn and moat which surrounds the castle
Another external feature which was common for tower-houses to have, was a bawn, which was one-and-a-half acres (1984, p. 10). This area was surrounded by a moat and sunken well which had water in it originally but is now empty. The slideshow shows that there was also a high wall built to protect those inside the castle.
Demesne Wall
There is a wall which extends as far as the gate lodge and entrance of Lynch’s Castle and Summerhill House. It also runs past the Summerhill Community Centre and the Castlelawns housing estate. This wall may have been built by the Lynchs or Lord Langford however we do know that this was used as a way to show how much land the landowners had but also as a form of defence.
The indentations for the yett at Lynch’s Castle
A common feature among tower castles in Ireland and one of the most effective forms of defence for the castles was the yett – this was an iron gate or grill which was used to protect those on the inside of the castle from potential attackers. It is very rare to find a yett still in place however there is enough evidence to show that a yett was present at the castle’s entrance. Berryman states that ‘this evidence includes holes for hinges in the dressed stones of the door jambs and a hole that passes through the wall for the chain to secure the yet closed. This can be said for Lynch’s Castle too, as the indentations still remain. However, one cannot assume that all tower castles had a yett built into the doorways of the castle. Approximately only twenty percent of tower castles had a yett built into the doorway and this was as a result of the changing social and housing conditions in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The entrance door
The entrance to the castle has a beautifully crafted Gothic-style doorway. The doorway is very much intact and exemplifies the masonry that was carried out in tower castles and in particular Lynch’s Castle. The doorway is approximately 2.5 metres in height and 1 metre in width.
Base Batter
There is also evidence of another common architectural feature that is found in many tower castles; the base batter. This was used to provide a solid structure to the built the castle on, like modern-day foundations but it was also used for defensive purposes too.
Another external feature which was common for tower-houses to have, was a bawn, which was one-and-a-half acres (1984, p. 10). This area was surrounded by a moat and sunken well which had water in it originally but is now empty. The slideshow shows that there was also a high wall built to protect those inside the castle.
Demesne Wall
There is a wall which extends as far as the gate lodge and entrance of Lynch’s Castle and Summerhill House. It also runs past the Summerhill Community Centre and the Castlelawns housing estate. This wall may have been built by the Lynchs or Lord Langford however we do know that this was used as a way to show how much land the landowners had but also as a form of defence.
The indentations for the yett at Lynch’s Castle
A common feature among tower castles in Ireland and one of the most effective forms of defence for the castles was the yett – this was an iron gate or grill which was used to protect those on the inside of the castle from potential attackers. It is very rare to find a yett still in place however there is enough evidence to show that a yett was present at the castle’s entrance. Berryman states that ‘this evidence includes holes for hinges in the dressed stones of the door jambs and a hole that passes through the wall for the chain to secure the yet closed. This can be said for Lynch’s Castle too, as the indentations still remain. However, one cannot assume that all tower castles had a yett built into the doorways of the castle. Approximately only twenty percent of tower castles had a yett built into the doorway and this was as a result of the changing social and housing conditions in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The entrance door
The entrance to the castle has a beautifully crafted Gothic-style doorway. The doorway is very much intact and exemplifies the masonry that was carried out in tower castles and in particular Lynch’s Castle. The doorway is approximately 2.5 metres in height and 1 metre in width.
Base Batter
There is also evidence of another common architectural feature that is found in many tower castles; the base batter. This was used to provide a solid structure to the built the castle on, like modern-day foundations but it was also used for defensive purposes too.