‘Lost’ medieval castle found hiding inside university building in Dublin

One of Dublin’s “lost” medieval castles has been found hiding in plain sight inside University College Dublin’s Roebuck Castle. New research reveals that substantial remains of the Norman castle of Roebuck, an important fortress on one of the approach roads into the medieval city of Dublin, are preserved within the modern-day building.

Professor Tadhg O’Keeffe, a specialist in medieval architectural history at UCD School of Archaeology, identified the surviving walls and other medieval features of the castle, long believed to have been demolished, beneath the plaster of the present building.

Published in Archaeology Ireland magazine, the research indicates that the oldest parts of the castle date to the early 13th century—this would likely make Roebuck Castle the oldest standing building on an Irish university campus.

“From the outside, the present building looks to be entirely Victorian. Inside, though, the walls of the old castle are preserved,” O’Keeffe said. “The medieval features are still there. They’re hidden under plaster but they can be made out.

“We are incredibly lucky that the Georgian and Victorian modernizers of the property simply built around the medieval castle rather than demolish it. And we are also lucky that they built very little else on the site. The courtyard at the back of the house today is actually the medieval castle courtyard!”

He added, “UCD can now claim to have the oldest standing building on any university campus in Ireland.”

Historical sources suggest the old castle was built within living memory of the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169 and was altered several times during the Middle Ages.

Its occupants included a medieval Lord High Chancellor of Ireland and, according to tradition, James II, the then-deposed king of England and Ireland (and Scotland as James VII), who is reputed to have stayed there in 1689 after he lost his throne.

By the 18th century, the castle had fallen into ruin and was believed to have been cleared away during subsequent redevelopment of the site. However, clues to its survival were captured by artist Gabriel Beranger, who visited the ruins around 1765 and recorded them in a series of watercolors.

“Beranger’s depictions of the ruined castle are really fascinating,” O’Keeffe said. “He captured the basic form of the building, as you would expect, but thankfully he also captured some of those small details, which are the clues needed to work out the building’s structural history.”

The discovery is significant because few medieval castles have survived in south Dublin, as many were demolished in the 17th century, with their stonework recycled for use in more comfortable residences.

“The passage of time has been unkind to the castles that were built across south Dublin in the Middle Ages,” O’Keeffe said. “Lost buildings are lost historical records. They leave gaps in our knowledge.

“It is wonderful to be able to welcome back Roebuck’s medieval castle, and to know that it won’t get lost again.”

Who’s behind this story?

Lisa Lock

BA art history, MA material culture. Former museum editor, paramedic, and transplant coordinator. Editing for Science X since 2021.

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Robert Egan

Bachelor’s in mathematical biology, Master’s in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language.

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