Killua Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Killua Castle |
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Killua Castle prior to its 21st century restoration
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| General information | |
| Coordinates | 53°39′34″N 6°59′46″W / 53.65954°N 6.99621°W |
| Completed | 1780s |
| Renovated | 2006 |
| Owner | Montpascal Foundation, the family foundation of the Krause family |
| Design and construction | |
| Developer | Sir Benjamin Chapman, 1st Baronet |
Killua Castle is an old castle located near Clonmellon in County Westmeath, Ireland. It was built around 1780 by Sir Benjamin Chapman. The castle was once the center of a large farm estate. After falling into disrepair, it was fixed up in 2006. Near the castle, there's also a special stone monument called the Raleigh Obelisk.
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The History of Killua Castle
Killua Castle and its lands were given to Benjamin Chapman around 1667. He was a captain in Oliver Cromwell's army. The land had been taken from the Knights Hospitaller, a very old group of knights. When Benjamin Chapman died, his son William took over the estate. Later, William's son, also named Benjamin, inherited it.
Building the Current Castle
The castle you see today was built in 1780. Sir Benjamin Chapman, the first Baronet, had the original castle torn down to build the new one. This new castle had a hall, a dining room, and several other rooms. It also had stables and a barn. From here, the Chapman family managed about 9,000 acres (36 square kilometers) of farmland.
In 1810, the castle went to Sir Benjamin's brother, Thomas. In the early 1820s, Thomas added many new parts to the castle. He built a large round tower and several other towers. These included a library tower and a staircase tower. He also added battlements, which are the fancy top parts of a castle wall. Thomas also put up the Raleigh Obelisk nearby.
Later Owners and Restoration
After Thomas, his son Sir Montagu Chapman became the owner in 1837. Sadly, he was lost at sea in 1852. His brother Benjamin, the 4th Baronet, then inherited the castle. It later passed to Benjamin's son, Montagu Richard.
Montagu Richard died in 1907 without children. His wife, who was also his cousin, divided the estate. She gave parts of it to the four daughters of Sir Thomas Chapman. Sir Thomas Chapman was the father of T. E. Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia.
The castle and its remaining 1,200 acres (4.9 square kilometers) were sold in 1949. For many years, the castle was in ruins. But in 2006, it was carefully restored.
The Raleigh Obelisk
The Raleigh Obelisk is a tall, thin stone monument. It was put up in 1810 by Sir Thomas Chapman. It stands about 200 to 300 meters from Killua Castle. This obelisk marks a special spot. It's believed to be where Sir Walter Raleigh planted some of the first potatoes in Ireland. He brought these potatoes from South America.
Potato History in Ireland
While Raleigh is often given credit, it's not certain who first planted potatoes in Ireland. Other people, like Antoine Parmentier, also helped spread potato farming. Spanish explorers also brought potatoes to the south and west coasts of Ireland.
The obelisk has an inscription that says "Sir Walter G. Raleigh." However, there's no other proof that Raleigh had a middle name. The "G" seems to have been added later by someone.
The Irish Georgian Society helped to restore the obelisk. There was also an earlier obelisk on the estate. It was built around 1806-1807 and was dedicated to Lord Nelson.
Other Castles in Westmeath
- Ballinlough Castle
- Clonyn Castle (also called Delvin Castle)
- Knockdrin Castle
- Tullynally Castle
- Tyrrellspass Castle
