Durhamstown Castle facts for kids
Durhamstown Castle is a very old building in Ireland, about 600 years old! It's a special type of strong house called a towerhouse. You can find it in a place called Durhamstown, in County Meath, Ireland. The castle got its name from a person named Mr. Doream. Today, it's not just an old building; it's a cozy guest house and restaurant where people can stay and eat.
Contents
Discovering Durhamstown Castle
This amazing castle is thought to have been built a long, long time ago, around the early 1400s. We don't know the exact date it started, but it has stood strong for centuries. It's one of the oldest buildings in Ireland where people have lived continuously!
A Look Inside
Durhamstown Castle has four main floors. The ground floor has four special rooms with arched ceilings, like tunnels, and windows that were added later. On the east side of the castle, there's a square tower with a pointed doorway. This door opens up to a spiral staircase that winds its way up through the castle. You can also see three tall chimneys grouped together on the north side. People believe there might have been another floor at the very top, but it was probably removed after a fire. Later, in the 1800s, a new single-story part was added to the north side of the old castle.
Who Lived Here?
Over the centuries, many different people have called Durhamstown Castle home.
Important Figures
In the 1500s, during the time of Queen Elizabeth I of England, a powerful person named the 1st Earl of Essex owned the castle. He was a very important official called the Lord Deputy of Ireland, which meant he was like the Queen's main representative in Ireland.
Later, in the 1600s, Sir Roger Jones-Lord Ranallagh lived there. His son, Arthur, held a big job as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This role meant he was in charge of the country's money.
Changing Hands
As time went on, the castle changed owners. In the 1700s, the Thompson family lived there. Then, in the 1800s, the Roberts family took over.
Today, Durhamstown Castle is owned by Dave and Sue Prickett. They bought it in 1996 and have turned it into the welcoming guest house and restaurant it is today. It's pretty cool to think that people have been living in this castle for hundreds of years without stopping!
