2013:187 - Derrywoone Castle, Baronscourt, Tyrone

A research excavation was undertaken at Derrywoone Castle, Baronscourt, Co. Tyrone during May and June 2013 and followed on from a geophysical survey which was undertaken at the site by Joanna Leigh (Licence Ref.: AE/13/85). Excavation was carried out as part of the DCAL Ulster Scots Archaeological Project (Project 7479) survey into the Ulster Plantation 1600–1650. Derrywoone Castle is a scheduled monument.

The aim of the excavation was to investigate the lands surrounding the castle in an attempt to identify the tenant dwellings of the estate. The early 17th-century surveys suggest that in excess of 80 families may have been settled near the castle. We also sought to investigate the internal and external environs of the castle with a view to tracing the extent of the bawn.

Derrywoone Castle was built soon after 1619 by Sir George Hamilton of Greenlawe (in Scotland) as the successor to the O’Neill 15th-century tower located nearby on Island MacHugh (Jope 1951, 44). In 1622 the castle was almost complete, recorded as comprising of a ‘fair stone howse, four stories high’ with a bawn of stone and lime. The bawn is recorded as measuring 14 feet high, 90 feet long and 79 feet broad. A typically Scottish feature present at Derrywoone is the finely carved corbelled out-staircase beside the doorway. This feature is also present on the castles of Mountcastle and Aughentaine. The castle is not shown on the Down Survey maps of 1655–6 or 1670 for County Tyrone. At this time the townland of Barons Court was known as Ballumutreerty.

Cuttings were excavated to the south-east of the castle in an area which had been subject to geophysical survey. Further cuttings were specifically targeted in the vicinity of the castle, the locations of which were agreed on site in consultation with the NIEA. Cuttings 1–5 failed to identify any buildings or associated features/deposits. The geophysical anomalies were found to be indicative of disturbed ground, a backfilled water course, and a pathway which is depicted on the first edition mapping. This field was not flat. Hollows and plateaux defined the topography across much of this area while further to the north the ground sweeps down to a low-lying possibly wetter area.

Cuttings 6–15, which were located around the castle were, as to be expected, more archaeologically significant. We were able to trace the extent of the bawn wall from the western extent of the castle (which is partly in ruin) westwards and then southwards defining an area similar to that recorded in the 1622 survey (90ft by 79ft). The wall foundation was defined by an inner and outer line of undressed, rough stone blocks (max. 0.54m x 0.63m x 0.36m) with an infill of smaller stones (c. 0.2m diameter). Overall the wall was c. 1.5m wide and survived to a height of c. 0.3m. Bedding material was evident underneath and on the outer, northern edge of the wall which in effect was used to build up the ground level to facilitate the foundation. No mortar was evident in the foundation construction. The edge of the wall foundation was traced in Cutting 12 turning southwards and crossed Cutting 10 at which point it was of similar construction to that recorded in Cutting 9.

The south-western and southern extent of the projected line of the wall could not be definitively identified in Cuttings 13 or 7. However two large cuts with stone fills were identified, which could represent the foundations (or robber trenches) of the walls in these two cuttings. An early 17th-century clay pipe bowl was recovered from the possible foundation in Cutting 13.

The interior of the bawn was cobbled, as indicated by the discovery of pitched cobbles in two of the cuttings (Cutting 8 and 14) and at the entrance to the castle (Cutting 11). Hardened clay surfaces defined parts of the bawn interior not covered by cobbling.

Features (pits) were exposed under the cobbles (in a narrow sondage—an area where the cobbles were previously removed/disturbed), which may be an indication of pre-castle settlement (C14 dating pending). These pits were sealed by a distinct deposit of charcoal-rich clays (C18), which formed the bedding material for the cobbles. This deposit likely represents the former ground surface exposed during the construction of the castle itself. The pits (C49: 0.4m wide and 0.07m deep and C50: 0.6m diameter and 0.34m deep) both contained charcoal-rich fills. It is likely that further features survive beneath bedding deposit C18.

Numerous sherds of pottery, some clay pipe, roofing slate, animal bone and some oyster shell were recovered from the soils of Cuttings 8, 9 and 10. Specialist analysis of this material is pending. There was little evidence for a return of the bawn wall in Cutting 7. The only feature of note in this cutting was a stone-filled pit or linear feature at its southern end which, as stated above, may be the foundation level or robber trench for the wall.

Cuttings 11 and 13 were placed at the entrance to the castle and within the interior. Investigation at the entrance indicated that the threshold was cobbled. The cuttings in the interior of the castle failed to uncover any significant archaeological features. Immediately inside the entrance a dump of material which included brick fragments and slate was recorded. The remainder of Cutting 11 was reduced to natural subsoil without encountering any archaeological features. Investigations within the castle did however prove that there was no cellar and that the floor was not cobbled. It is most likely that the ground floor was constructed of cross beams supporting wooden boards. Cutting 15, positioned at the internal edge of the eastern wall of the castle, was excavated to see if there was any trace of beam slots at ground level; none were found.

IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow