Castle, Woodville, Co. Dublin
On the south bank of the River Liffey in County Dublin, the site of Ballydowd Castle tells a story of successive buildings that have come and gone over the centuries.
Castle, Woodville, Co. Dublin
According to historian Ball, writing in 1906, an 18th-century mansion called Woodville was built directly on top of the medieval castle’s foundations. This practice of building new structures atop old fortifications was fairly common across Ireland, as landowners sought to modernise their properties whilst making use of existing stonework and strategic positions.
Woodville mansion itself met an unfortunate end, with architectural historian Bence-Jones noting its destruction by 1978. The loss of such country houses was all too frequent in 20th-century Ireland, whether through neglect, fire, or deliberate demolition. Today, visitors to the area will find little evidence of either structure; no traces remain visible at ground level, making this a hidden piece of Dublin’s architectural history.
The site represents a typical pattern in Irish heritage, where medieval strongholds gave way to Georgian comfort, only for both to eventually disappear from the landscape. Whilst nothing remains to see, the location serves as a reminder of how the banks of the Liffey were once dotted with castles and grand houses, most of which have vanished without trace. Local historians like Geraldine Stout continue to document these lost places, ensuring their stories aren’t entirely forgotten.