Carlow Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carlow Castle |
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Carlow Castle
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| Location | Carlow, County Carlow, Ireland |
| Built | 1207–1213 |
| Architect | William Marshall |
| Reference no. | 306 |
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Carlow Castle (Irish: Caisleán Cheatharlach) is an old castle found near the River Barrow in County Carlow, Ireland. It was built a very long time ago, between the years 1207 and 1213. Today, it is known as a National Monument of Ireland, which means it is a very important historical site.
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Discovering Carlow Castle's Past
The first time Carlow Castle was written about was in 1231. We don't know for sure who built it, but many people believe it was William Marshal the elder. He was in Ireland between 1207 and 1213, which is when the castle was built.
What Made Carlow Castle Special?
Carlow Castle was quite unique for its time in Ireland. It was the very first castle to have a special design called a "towered keep". Imagine a huge rectangular tower in the middle, with four smaller, round towers at each corner. This design was different from other castles built around the same time in England and Europe.
Unlike many castles, Carlow Castle might not have been built as a last-resort safe place. It didn't have a strong outer wall with towers (called a "curtain wall") or a special gatehouse. Other similar castles from that period were built in places like Ferns, Lea, and Terryglass.
Inside the Castle Walls
The main part of the castle measured about 16 by 9.2 meters (about 52 by 30 feet). The round corner towers were about 4.5 meters (15 feet) wide. The castle walls were very thick, about 2.7 meters (9 feet) wide!
The main castle building had three floors. The upper floors were made of wood. The long west wall had stairways and two toilets, which shows that the space inside was divided into different rooms. The main entrance door was on the first floor, but it is now broken.
Who Owned Carlow Castle?
Over the centuries, Carlow Castle changed hands many times.
- In 1306, it was given to the Crown (the king or queen).
- In 1312, it was given to Thomas Plantagenet.
- In 1537, the Crown took it back because the owners weren't living there.
- In 1616, the Earl of Thomond bought it.
- It was bought and sold many more times.
- In 1650, Oliver Cromwell took the castle, but it was later given back to the Earl of Thomond.
How the Castle Changed Over Time
In 1814, a big part of the castle was damaged. People tried to change it into a hospital using explosives. Luckily, the outer part of the west wall and the two towers next to it were saved. These parts are what we can still see today.
