Ballyadams Castle


Map Reference: S629908 (2629, 1908)



Ballyadams Castle is an unusual structure. Approaching from the roadway one sees a tall tower with attached lower building of three storeys. The tower is possibly five storeys high and has rounded corners. The appearance is like that of a gatehouse with two unequal round towers. The doorway is set in the short wall between the towers and is protected by a murder-hole leading from first floor and a machicolation at higher level. A spiral stairway rises to the left of the entrance. At the base of this is a small room. To the right of the entrance is a small chamber with a hole in the floor leading to a lower chamber. The main entrance to this latter chamber is from the rear of the tower. The stairway rises to first floor where a small room leads off to the left. Straight ahead is a large room with a fireplace.



The stairway rises further on the right to a similar arrangement on the second floor. Beyond this level the stairway is broken but appears to rise to roof level. There is no access to the lower building from the tower. The large rooms above second floor level both have fireplaces and the walls of all the rooms are plastered. The windows at the fourth storey are two-light with ogee heads. There are good crenellations on the tower and the narrower section rises above roof level to form a small turret. The lower building is rectangular with large window openings, all now damaged. It is divided to first floor level by an interior wall but all the floors are missing.


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