Baggotrath Castle
| Baggotrath Castle | ||
|---|---|---|
.jpg) Baggotrath Castle 1792 (drawing by Francis Grose) |
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| Alternative name (s): | Baggotsrath Castle | |
| Creation time : | around 1280 | |
| Castle type : | Niederungsburg | |
| Conservation status: | Demolished ruin | |
| Standing position : | Irish nobility | |
| Construction: | Quarry stone | |
| Place: | Dublin | |
| Geographical location | 53 ° 20 '0.6 " N , 6 ° 14' 35" W | |
| Height: | 11 m ASLTemplate: height / unknown reference | |
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Baggotrath Castle (also Baggotsrath Castle , Irish Ráth Bhagóid ) was a castle on what is now Baggot Street Upper in the center of the Irish capital Dublin . The Bagod family (later Baggot ) had it built at the end of the 13th century; this also explains the names of the castle and street.
In the English Civil War , ownership of the castle, which was considered to be "the strongest fortress in the Dublin area", was of the greatest importance to both parties to the conflict. Most of the castle was destroyed during the Siege of Dublin in 1649, on the eve of the decisive Battle of Rathmines . Its ruins remained in place until the early 19th century, when the Dublin Corporation (Dublin City Council) demolished them. Today no traces of the former castle are visible, but it is certain that it was at the current address 44-46, Baggot Street Upper , opposite the junction with Waterloo Road .
history
Early history
The castle and the surrounding area take their name from Sir Robert Bagod , the Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas , who bought the site around 1280 and had a castle built there. The castle later fell from the Bagods to the FitzWilliams , who later became Viscounts FitzWilliam . These in turn bequeathed the property to the influential soldier and statesman Sir Edward Perrers , who was born in England at the beginning of the 15th century . It later returned to the FitzWilliam family.
In 1441 a bloody battle took place at the castle. Joanna , the widow of Edward Perrers, to whom the castle fell after the death of her only son in 1428, died after appointing James Cornwalsh , Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer , as administrator of the estate. Cornwalsh took possession of the castle, which was very displeasing to Sir Edward Perrers' daughter Ismay , who had married into the FitzWilliam family. Her husband raised a significant number of soldiers, attacked the castle and "criminally murdered the judge," as the later prosecution put it. The murder charge makes it difficult to understand why FitzWilliam and his wife Ismay were soon pardoned, despite the reign of King Henry VI. of England was known for pardoning even the most notorious criminals.
In 1489 the condition of the castle was described as ruinous, but it was later rebuilt and in the 1640s it is said to have been the strongest fortress in the Dublin area, although the owners complained of considerable damage in 1642.
Battle of Rathmines
In July 1649, the royalist military leader in Ireland, James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde , advanced on Dublin, which was held by parliamentary forces under Colonel Michael Jones . Jones assumed that the Duke of Ormonde would attempt to take Baggotrath Castle, so exercised caution and partially destroyed the castle. Nevertheless, the Duke of Ormonde was determined to have the castle re-fortified if possible. On August 1, a force of 1,500 men was sent out to secure it, but for reasons that remain unexplained it took them all night to cover a distance of about 1 mile. When the Duke of Ormonde himself arrived at the castle, he found that nothing had been done to fortify it. Meanwhile, Jones had been informed of the arrival of the Duke of Ormonde and attacked the castle with 5000 men. The royalist cavalry deserted and most of the foot soldiers were killed or captured, enabling Jones to achieve his decisive victory at Rathmines.
Decline and demolition
The FitzWilliams, who owned another great castle in Dublin, Merrion Castle , appear to have made no effort to rebuild Baggotrath Castle. Austin Cooper detailed the ruins in 1778 and Francis Grose drew them in 1792, several years before they were demolished to extend Baggot Street . The name of the castle is preserved to this day in Baggotrath Lane , a narrow side street that connects Baggot Street Lower with Merrion Street .
Individual references and comments
- ^ F. Elrington Ball: History of Dublin . 6 volumes. Alexander Thom and Co., Dublin 1902-1920. Volume 2. p. 42.
- ^ F. Elrington Ball: History of Dublin . 6 volumes. Alexander Thom and Co., Dublin 1902-1920. Volume 2. pp. 43-45.
- ^ F. Elrington Ball: The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 . John Murray, London 1926.
- ↑ Charles Ross: Edward IV . Eyre Methuen, 1974.
- ^ F. Elrington Ball: History of Dublin . 6 volumes. Alexander Thom and Co., Dublin 1902-1920. Volume 2. p. 47.
- ^ F. Elrington Ball: History of Dublin . 6 volumes. Alexander Thom and Co., Dublin 1902-1920. Volume 2. p. 46.
- ↑ They were either given wrong directions or they just got lost.
- ↑ A pedestrian today needs about ½ an hour for this distance, even if it is admittedly on cobbled streets.
- ^ F. Elrington Ball: History of Dublin . 6 volumes. Alexander Thom and Co., Dublin 1902-1920. Volume 2. pp. 47-49.
- ^ F. Elrington Ball: History of Dublin . 6 volumes. Alexander Thom and Co., Dublin 1902-1920. Volume 2. p. 48.