Duchas in study of Wicklow 'hall house'

Duchas, the heritage service, has begun an archaeological assessment of Kindlestown Castle, near Delgany, Co Wicklow. The castle is believed to be one of only two hall houses with outer defences remaining in the State.

The assessment will involve a survey of surrounding land and some conservation work on the castle. It is hoped the survey, which is not as intensive as an archaeological digwill offer insights into the dates and uses of the castle and confirm previous belief that it was a hall house dating from the early 13th century, early versions of the tower houses which became popular across Ireland from the 15th centuries onwards.

Kindlestown is thought to be a typical example of a small castle or hall house which differed from the better known "hall keeps" in that it stood alone in an isolated area while the keeps were usually part of a larger complex.

According to the Guide to International and Historic Monuments of Ireland (Gill and Macmillan 1970) by Peter Harbison, Kindlestown Castle is a rare example of a type of "halled castle" used in the 13th and 14th centuries.

It was probably built by the Archibold family in the 13th century, and sufficient parts of the castle remain for Mr Harbison to conclude that the ground floor was roofed by a continuous barrel vault and the upper storey was divided into a number of rooms with large or small windows.

In The Medieval castles of Ireland (Collins Press 1999) the archaeologist David Sweetman says the Kindlestown hall house is one of only two remaining with substantial outer defences.

The other is Castleconor, Co Mayo.