County: Tipperary Site name: ROSCREA CASTLE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Joanna Wren
Site type: Gatehouse
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 613347m, N 689236m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.953746, -7.801363
From 25th November 1991 to 15th January 1992 an archaeological excavation was carried out north of Roscrea Castle gatehouse by the writer. The work was funded by the Office of Public Works, in advance of restoration work at the Castle. A trench 13m east-west x 6.5m north-south was opened directly in front of the gatehouse.
In 1285 a payment was made to John de Lydert for works at the King's Castle at Roscrea (Sweetman 1875-80, 81). It is likely that the works referred to include the building of the original Castle gatehouse.
The excavation revealed the remains of the construction trench for the gatehouse, the Castle moat, the berm and a drawbridge pit. Sherds of 13th-century Redcliff ware (Ponsford pers. comm.) were recovered from backfill layers in both the construction trench and the drawbridge pit. The pit was originally earth-cut with a wall set against its northern face which acted as a landing platform for the drawbridge. At a later stage another 3 walls were added, lining the pit, to the south, east and west.
Sometime before the late 18th century the stone drawbridge pit was demolished and the ground in front of the gatehouse lowered. Interesting finds from the site include an antler comb of a type which dates from the late 12th to the 14th century and the articulated skeleton of a dog. Both of the above came from backfill material in the construction trench.
Reference
Sweetman. H.S. (ed.) Calender of documents relating to Ireland 1171-1307. London 1875-80.
The Mile Post, Slieve Rue, Co. Kilkenny
