Grantstown Castle

Map Reference: R968397 (1968, 1397)



I visited this castle in 1982 and 1986. When I returned about 5 years ago I found that the castle was being renovated and that the interior was no longer accessible. So the photos and description on this page date from the earlier visits. It is an excellent tower-house which stands to full height but without crenellations. The pointed doorway is guarded by a machicolation at roof height and a murder-hole. To the right of the doorway is a guard chamber and a mural stairway rises to the left. The ground floor chamber has three large recesses. There is a vault above the second floor and the stairway becomes spiral above this. Here the original stairway has been replaced by replaced by a skeleton-like metal spiral stairway which seems firm but was not tested. It seems to rise to roof level. There seems to be a small mural chamber at second floor level but close inspection was not possible. The rooms are lit by small slits at the lower levels and there is a two-light window about third floor level. There are no corner slits or bartizans and the total height is about six storeys. If anyone has more information or up-to-date photos which they would like to share, please get in touch.