Maudlin Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Magdalan Castle |
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| Native name Irish: Caisleán Mhaidilín |
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| Magdalen Castle | |
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| Type | tower house |
| Location | Maudlin Street, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Area | Nore Valley |
| Height | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Built | 16th century |
| Official name: Magdalan Castle | |
| Reference no. | 522 |
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Maudlin Castle is an old tower house in Kilkenny, Ireland. It was once part of a medieval hospital. Today, it is a special National Monument, meaning it is protected by the government.
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Where is Maudlin Castle?
Maudlin Castle stands on Maudlin Street in Kilkenny City. You can find it just north of the Nore River. It is also located to the east of Kilkenny College.
The History of Maudlin Castle
A serious illness called Leprosy arrived in Ireland a long time ago. It came around the 10th or 11th century. To help people with this illness, a hospital was built in Kilkenny.
The Hospital of St. Mary Magdalene
The Hospital of St. Mary Magdalene opened before the year 1327. Some people think William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke might have started it. This hospital quickly became one of the most important places for people with leprosy in medieval Ireland.
The hospital was built on the edge of the city. It had tall walls around it for protection. You could only enter through a special gatehouse. Inside, there was also a chapel and a graveyard. The hospital even had 50 acres of farmland. It worked closely with St. John's Priory in Kilkenny.
The Castle's Purpose
The tower house you see today was built in the early 16th century. It was part of the hospital complex. The hospital closed down during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when many religious places were shut down.
After it closed, Maudlin Castle was described as a small castle. It had a tiled roof. It was built to protect the people living in the hospital and the nearby area. By then, it was empty and not worth much. In 1628, there was talk of a "town ditch" near St. Mary's Church. This might mean there was a moat around the hospital. Later, King Charles I gave the hospital to the Kilkenny Corporation.
Life at the Hospital
The hospital was not just for people with leprosy. It also served as a "retirement home" for rich families. Families like the Rothes, Langtons, and Shees lived there. Old records show what people ate there. They enjoyed beef, mutton, bacon, and wildfowl (wild birds).
What the Castle Looks Like
The tower is about 25 m (82 ft) tall. It has four main floors. A special stair turret continues even higher, leading up to the battlements. These are the parts of the wall with gaps for defense. The bottom of the tower is wider than the top. This wider base is called a batter.
