Castle, Redhill Demesne, Co. Cavan
Hidden within the grounds of Redhill Demesne in County Cavan stands a curious limestone structure that has puzzled locals for generations.
Castle, Redhill Demesne, Co. Cavan
This substantial, nearly square building measures roughly 16.7 metres from northwest to southeast and 16.45 metres from northeast to southwest. Built from roughly coursed limestone and rubble, it likely dates to the mid-18th century, though its original purpose remains somewhat mysterious.
The building’s interior reveals an intriguing layout, divided by a wall running northeast to southwest that creates two distinct spaces. Architectural details hint at its former grandeur; remnants of a doorway complete with a bolt-hole can still be seen in the southeastern wall, suggesting this was once a secure structure. Window fragments survive in both the southwestern and northeastern walls, allowing visitors to imagine how light once filtered through these openings centuries ago.
While time has taken its toll on the structure, with the northern wall requiring partial reconstruction at some point, enough remains to appreciate the solid craftsmanship of its original builders. Whether it served as a fortified dwelling, an estate building, or had some other purpose entirely, this enigmatic structure stands as a testament to 18th-century construction techniques in rural Ireland, its limestone walls still defying the passage of time after more than 250 years.