2024:799 - Bellew's Castle, Castletown, Louth
County: Louth
Site name: Bellew's Castle, Castletown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LH007-118001
Licence number: 24E0867
Author: Aisling Collins
Author/Organisation Address: ACAS, 45 Richmond Park, Monkstown, Co. Dublin
Site type: Castle
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 703119m, N 808676m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.016983, -6.426499
No charcoal, wicker or small finds were identified during monitoring.
A new arrow loop window was exposed following removal of cement render on the turret’s south-east-facing wall. This arrow was positioned in a good place to guard the main entrance of the castle. It measured 50mm in width and 0.68m in height. It was splayed with the narrowest part on the exterior and widest angle on the interior side.
The new arrow loop was located 3.2m from the ground and 1.7m from the southern wall limit and 1m from the northern wall limit. It had a cut limestone surround. It was blocked up with red brick.
It is identical to the exposed arrow loop on the south-eastern turret’s southern wall. And it is possible there may be another arrow loop opposite this on the south-east turret guarding the main entrance from the opposite side.
The arrow loop, guarding the front doorway, is an exciting find. The conservation architect John Deaton has recommended leaving the stone surround exposed and feather the harling around it. He has recommend opening up the loop for ventilation to the stairs.