Historical records from the 17th century describe a tower house standing here, though the structure itself has long since vanished. Before that, this same spot hosted an Anglo-Norman castle, built sometime before 1225 by Walter de Ridelesford, one of the Norman lords who carved out territories across Ireland following the invasion of 1169.

Walter de Ridelesford was part of the wave of Anglo-Norman nobles who established fortifications throughout Leinster to secure their newly acquired lands. His castle at Bray would have served as both a defensive position and an administrative centre, controlling the surrounding countryside and the important coastal route between Dublin and Wicklow. These early castles were typically motte and bailey structures; earthwork fortifications topped with wooden palisades, though some were later rebuilt in stone.

Today, visitors to Bray won’t find any visible remains of either the castle or the later tower house. The medieval past has been completely absorbed by modern development, leaving only that distinctive bend in the road as a ghost of the fortification that once commanded this strategic location. It’s a reminder that Ireland’s medieval heritage often lies hidden beneath the everyday landscape, waiting to be rediscovered through historical records and archaeological investigation.