The Brown family held this strategic location from the earliest days of Anglo-Norman settlement, though their original stronghold was actually the motte at Oldhall, about 1.6km to the west. The family’s prominence in local politics is well documented; Sir Nicholas le Brun served as High Sheriff of Wexford in 1364, whilst Sir Walter Browne held the position of Seneschal, or governor, of the county in 1521. Their fortunes took a violent turn in 1572 when Robert Brown of Mulrankin was murdered alongside other local gentry by Fiach McHugh O’Byrne and Brian McCahir Kavanagh, allegedly at the instigation of rival families, the Furlongs of Horetown and the Fitzhenrys of Mackmine.

The rectangular tower, measuring approximately 9 metres north to south and 7.2 metres east to west, showcases classic defensive architecture with its murder hole protecting the western entrance and multiple embrasures throughout its floors. The interior reveals sophisticated medieval construction techniques, including a north-south vault between the first and second floors, ogee-headed windows crafted from Old Red Sandstone, and what may have been a garderobe chamber in the northeast angle. Archaeological investigations have uncovered evidence of an earlier hall dating to 1432, with recent excavations revealing 12th or 13th century pottery and the remains of pits and a fosse, suggesting the site’s importance predates the current tower by several centuries.

By 1640, William Browne owned the castle along with its hall, large bawn and 240 acres at Mulrankin, plus an additional 720 acres scattered across numerous townlands in the parish. However, mounting debts to Wexford merchants led to William’s disappearance after the 1640s, leaving his wife Margaret to face transplantation to Connaught with 28 dependents in 1653. The property subsequently passed to John Cliffe, and remarkably, remained in the Cliffe family well into the early 20th century. Today, the tower house sits within what appears to be either the original bawn area, now occupied by farm buildings, or possibly a larger rectangular enclosure defined by stone-clad earthen banks to the south, with a 19th century farmhouse standing where the medieval hall once stood.