Blackwater Castle

Located at the point of a high triangular limestone promontory formed by sharp bend in Awbeg River which borders the promontory from NE clockwise to SW. The promontory is the site of an inland promontory fort (CO026-199----).The castle is much reduced from its original form and what survives is incorporated into the complex of later buildings that range in date from the later medieval period through to the 20thcentury.

At SE end of main building range of country house (CO026-089002-) is a circular tower, c. 6m high with low (1.3m high) steep base batter. Tower mostly encased by later masonry of uncertain date, and abutted to W and NW by modern extensions to house; some masonry of the tower is visible within the extension. South face of tower has a tall narrow slit ope, now blocked, that has appearance of a 13th century arrow loop. On east side of tower core of wall visible where facing stones are gone. Here the voussoirs of an arch survive, probably over an original window or arrow loop. Close to this feature the wall is pierced high-up by modern window with a wooden frame. Tower now topped by stone masonry battlemented platform of 19th century appearance with concrete floor, which sits squarely on the circular tower. Stone masonry building (Width 3.7m), also probably 19th century, extends c. 9m to SE. Flat concrete roof to this forms a viewing platform. Both platforms accessed from north by series of stone steps. Original external diameter of circular tower estimated at c. 5-6m. Interior inaccessible but owner recalls from memory that interior diameter is c. 2-2.5m.

At 4.5m NE of the tower a section of wall (1.27m thick) begins which runs northwards for 9.7m. This probably remains of a curtain wall, contemporary with the circular tower, but its relationship with the tower is obscured by the later buildings mentioned above. At its southern end the wall stand close to its original height of c. 4m. Here a corbelled-out machicolation projects overhead. Further north the wall is reduced in height with mock battlements added, and then peters out.

Some 20m further north along the cliff edge, is a similar wall on roughly the same line (length c. 26m). Due to terracing in the 19th century this wall now acts as a retaining wall (internal height 0.5m; external height 5.2m) but originally formed the east wall of a rectangular masonry structure. This is likely part of the basement or under-croft of a two-storey building, probably the castle hall. At its southern end is a garderobe tower with an open central shaft (1.2m x 1.2m). At 14.5m and again at 18.2m north of the garderobe shaft the internal arches of two window embrasures can be seen just above ground level. Corresponding with these, on the outer face, are two inserted flat-headed window lights, later medieval in character.

Beyond this the wall turns westwards for 9.3m, then northwards again for a further 37m. Again here the wall, which appears to be heavily rebuilt in places, acts as a retaining wall for a terrace above and below. Originally along this run of wall from the circular tower it probably stood above a steep precipice but remodelling of the ground in the 19th century has changed the contour of the ground.

At the end of this run the wall turns sharply to the southwest and runs for a further 28m to a 19th century courtyard gateway. The external angle, where the wall turns to the southwest, is protected by an added semi-circular tower of late medieval appearance with musket loops in its upper level. This is accessed by a flight of steps from with the enclosure. This southwest run of wall (height 4.5m; thickness 1.8m) stands on level ground though completely obscured by later buildings on its northwest face. The wall on the far side of the gateway is of 19th century appearance though it may incorporate elements of the 13th century curtain wall.

Though fragmentary what survives indicates this is the remains of an early 13th century castle, similar to nearby castles of roughly the same date at Glanworth (Manning 2010) and Buttevant (Cotter 2013). All three have a similar siting standing above a steep cliff-face overlooking an important crossing point on a tributary of the Blackwater River. This castle, known as Duncroth, was probably built by the fitz Hugh brothers who came into possession of this portion of the cantred of Fermoy in the late 12th century and had their caput or chief castle here (McCotter 1997). The brothers left no direct male heir and the lands eventually passed through marriage to the Roches who ruled from here into the 17th century.