The castle and its bawn, a fortified enclosure typical of Irish defensive architecture, appear in historical records from the 1650s Down Survey, which documented Ireland’s lands following the Cromwellian conquest. The survey’s terrier noted that the castle remained in good repair at that time, complete with its bawn, an orchard, some ash trees, and a nearby chapel of ease. This detailed description provides a rare glimpse into the layout of a 17th-century Irish estate.

The castle belonged to William Goulding (also recorded as Golding) in 1641, just before the outbreak of the Irish Confederate Wars. Historical maps offer clues to its location; the Down Survey parish map shows the castle positioned west of and close to the chapel, whilst Larkin’s 1808 map of County Westmeath still marked the castle ruins, suggesting they remained visible well into the 19th century. This longevity speaks to the substantial nature of the original construction, likely built of stone in keeping with defensive structures of its era.

By 1980, however, archaeological field surveys found little trace of the castle itself. Investigators noted only a faint rectangular enclosure marked by a low bank and shallow outer ditch, possibly remnants of the old bawn or merely an ancient field boundary. More recently, aerial photographs from 2011 revealed earthworks in the area that might represent the last vestiges of Archerstown Castle. These subtle marks in the landscape serve as quiet reminders of the fortified houses that once dotted the Irish countryside, protecting landowners during centuries of conflict and change.