Tymon Castle
Tymon Castle. On the right-hand side of tile old road from Balrothery to the Greenhills, about half-way between the two villages, stands the o...
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Tymon Castle. On the right-hand side of tile old road from Balrothery to the Greenhills, about half-way between the two villages, stands the o...
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Tymon Castle.
On the right-hand side of tile old road from Balrothery to the Greenhills, about half-way between the two villages, stands the old Castle of Tymon.
Handcock1.gif (18984 bytes)Built on an eminence rising from the plain, it forms a conspicuous object for miles around. It is a small castle, built in the same style as Cappoge, Cheeverstown, Milltown, [See ” Lesser Castles of the County Dublin,” by Mr. E. R. M’C. Dix, in *The Irish Builder, *for 1897 and 1898.] and many others, commonly supposed to have been erected in the reign of King John. The lower story is one entire room, arched over; the upper is similar; the roof flat, with a winding-stairs in a projection, or tower, over the entrance. The doorway was a small arched one, and the holes for two strong wooden bars are still to be seen. At the top of the castle, over the door, is a small machicolation, or place for pouring melted lead or boiling water on the besiegers. The lower part was inhabited by a poor family to the end of the last century; but the upper story was in a state of dilapidation for at least two centuries earlier.
An Inquisition of 1547 states Tymon Castle to be then in a ruinous condition; probably the roof had fallen in, and it was not worth while replacing it. King John granted this lordship or manor to Archbishop de Loundres, in recompense for losses to his See, and the expenses which he had incurred in fortifying the Castle of Dublin.
In 1247 it was constituted a prebend in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which still exists, though divested of its endowment. In 1306 it was valued at £10 yearly.
In 1552 a patent of Edward VI conveys the lands of Tymothan, or Tymon, and all the tithes, in consideration of* *the sum of £1,078 15s. 10d., to James Sedgrave, with the town or village thereof, for 15s. 4d. quit-rent, the contents being estimated at 230 acres. These, with 600 acres in demesne, he had power to create into tenures, and to hold courts leet and baron. All were subsequently included in the Manor of Rathfarnham.
James Sedgrave and his assigns held these lands until they were purchased by Sir Charles Wilmot, who afterwards conveyed them to Sir Adam Loftus, to whom several Church lands in Ireland were confirmed by a patent, passed 20th March, 1619. In this were comprised, amongst others, the castle, town, and lands of Rathfarnham, Old Court, Tymothan, and the plough-land of Knocklyon, in capite, by knight service, at 15s. 4d. quit-rent, for ever. William Conolly, [See Appendix E.] afterwards Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, purchased these lands, and they now form portion of the estate of his representatives.
In old times this castle was surrounded by marshes, which rendered it almost inaccessible. The stream, which forms part of the Poddle river, now winds in deeply cut drains, in a most devious course, through the fields round Tymon. It is easy to see that before the drainage was attended to, and these deep cuttings made, this stream must have flooded much of the surrounding country. The road to the castle is along the very top of the range of sand-hills before mentioned; and on one of them the castle is built. It is fast going to complete ruin. About half of it has been undermined, and has fallen, the stones being used for building purposes. Probably in a few years more it will all be level with the ground.