Ashtown Castle

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ashtown Castle
View from the south

View from the south

Creation time : probably 15th century
Castle type : Tower castle
Conservation status: completely restored
Place: Dublin
Geographical location 53 ° 21 '56.8 "  N , 6 ° 19' 50.1"  W Coordinates: 53 ° 21 '56.8 "  N , 6 ° 19' 50.1"  W.

Ashtown Castle ( Irish Caisleán Bhaile to Ásaigh ) is a Grade II listed building in the Phoenix Park , the largest recreational park in a European capital in the Irish Dublin . It was designed as a tower house (fortified house), a special form of a medieval castle .

description

Ashtown Castle has been rebuilt and changed several times in the course of its history, its dimensions still correspond to the £ 10 castles under the English King Henry VI. were erected. The four-story building measures around 6 meters by 9 meters in the rectangular floor plan. At the south-east corner there is a bay porch that includes the spiral staircase .

The function of the systems on the ground floor is unknown today, although it is assumed that the kitchen was among other things here. The lords' living quarters were on the first floor. The second floor housed the Great Hall ( english great hall ), in the roof area, which today as gabled roof is executed, the fortifications were established.

The surrounding gardens sketch a building floor plan. This is the now defunct Ashtown Lodge , a former extension of the house, which at the time had turned the building into a castle .

history

It is unknown when the castle was built. It is certain that it existed in the early 17th century. It is believed that the complex was built at a time when King Henry VI. proclaimed a statute stating that any castle construction that met a minimum of requirements was funded with ten pounds.

The design of the roof suggests that it was rebuilt and changed in the 17th century. It is known that in 1641 John Connell, better known as John of Ashtown, owned the property, which at the time comprised 200  acres and was worth around 200 pounds.

In 1751 the first work of the adjoining Ashtown Lodge followed , which was modernized and expanded again from 1774. From 1782 on, the Under Secretary for Ireland resided here .

From 1922 to 1929 the property served as an embassy for the United States. This was then moved to the Deerfield Estate. But the use as an embassy remained for the time being: the apostolic nuncio , the diplomatic mission of the Vatican , used Ashtown Castle until 1978. Until the restoration in 1989, the building was in a poor structural condition, and was used by the Taoiseach, the Irish head of government , discussed. Except for the old, then restored castle core, the lodge was demolished.

literature

  • Ashtown Castle Visitors' Guide, Phoenix Park, Dublin . The Office of Public Works, undated.

Web links

Commons : Ashtown Castle, Dublin  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files