Caherleske House, Caherlesk, Co. Kilkenny
In the rolling countryside of County Kilkenny, the remnants of Caherleske House tell a story that stretches back centuries.
Caherleske House, Caherlesk, Co. Kilkenny
The Down Survey barony map from 1655 to 1656 shows a substantial castellated building standing here, surrounded by seven smaller structures that formed a protective ring around the main house. This early cartographic evidence places the fortified dwelling in the central western portion of the townland, an area that has remarkably maintained its boundaries since the 17th century.
The building’s evolution can be traced through historical maps, where it appears as Wellington House on the first Ordnance Survey map of 1839, later becoming known as Caherleske House by the 1948 revision. Whilst the grand structure has been largely demolished, what remains may still contain elements of the original 17th century castle or fortified house that once dominated this landscape. The surviving fabric could potentially reveal architectural features from an era when such defensive structures were essential for landowners in rural Ireland.
Today, visitors to the site can still sense the strategic importance of this location, where a once mighty castellated house commanded views across the Kilkenny countryside. The historical record, particularly the detailed Down Survey mapping, provides a tantalising glimpse of what was clearly a significant estate, complete with its satellite buildings that likely housed servants, stored provisions, or provided additional defensive positions during more turbulent times.