Woodlands Forest Site, County Kilkenny; Archaeological Report

2.7.1 Introduction

2.7.1.1 Location
The site is located approximately 10km south-west of Kilkenny city (Figure 17).

2.7.2 Receiving Environment

2.7.2.1 Placenames
County Kilkenny; in Irish "Cill-Chainigh" [Kilkenny] F.M., meaning "the church of St. Cainneach", or Canice, who died in the year 598 (Joyce 1856, 52).

Townland
Woodlands or in Irish "Fearann Coillteach" meaning "Wooded Lands" (Ó' Ceallaig 1953, 63-70). Woodland is also known in Irish as "Baile na Coille" or "the place of the wood". The townland contains 231 acres and is currently under a new State forest (Kilkenny Archaeological Society p.179).

Barony
Shillelogher, also Shillallogher or in Irish "Siol Fhaelchair" meaning "Faelchar tribe lands" (Ó' Ceallaigh 1953, 63-70). Another spelling for the name includes 'Courtnabouhilea' (Nolan and Whelan 1990, 447). "The word 'Siller' is seen by authorities as a contraction of the word 'Shillelogher'. The derivation of the word Shillelogher, and the origin of its application to this part of the County of Kilkenny, are lost in the obscurity of time" (Hogan 1884, 311).

Parish
Castleinch or Inchyolaghan or in Irish "Caisleán na hInse" meaning "the castle of the holm" or "Inse Ui Uallachán" meaning "O' Holohan's holm" (Kilkenny Archaeological Society p.178). "Inch" or "Inis", an island; a low meadow along a river (Joyce 1856, 52). Castleinch was an important fief in the barony (Nolan and Whelan 1990, 77).

"The parish contains 448 acres. The ancient church surrounded by the churchyard is in ruins. A modern Protestant churchyard, now long closed to divine service, is by the site and encloses the tombs of the Earls of Desart in a sad state of neglect. The ruined castle is in the opposite side of the road from the church. Westwards there is a low-lying area of scrub land called "Garrauns" meaning "a shrubbery". "Bóthar an Chóiste", the coach road ran this way from Kilkenny through Shellumsrath westwards and is still known by its Irish name. A large timber baulk was excavated from twelve feet underground in 1956 during drainage operations by the Land Project staff" (Kilkenny Archaeological Society p.178).

2.7.2.2 Topography
The topography of the site comprises:
(i) relatively flat, dry land.

2.7.2.3 Cartographic Sources
An analysis of Ordnance Survey maps from the early nineteenth century to date gives a picture of the development of the townland over time. The forest site within Woodlands townland is divided between two Ordnance Survey sheets within county Kilkenny, sheets 19 and 23 respectively.

The Down Survey map c.1656 of the parish of Castleinch or Inchyolaghan in the barony of Shillelogher shows the barony name of 'Sheelelogh' and the parish of 'Inishewlahan' or 'Inchewhoolahann' (Figure 19). A church and castle are annotated within the parish and it is assumed these represent the castle and church of Castleinch marked on the 1st and 3rd editions of the Ordnance Survey maps, 1839-1842 and 1947 respectively. The parish of Grange is located to the south. In the south-western corner of the parish of 'Inishewlahan', to the west of Castleinch 'church' and 'castle', an area of woodland is clearly demarcated which is representative of the current location of the Woodlands forest site. It is described as 'Wood' and 'Shaking Bogg' with the number '(19)' in brackets. The 'Shaking Bogg' appears to represent wet or poorer ground while the centre of the 'Wood' shows annotated trees clearly marked on drier land. The evidence of this wood clearly shows the earliest account and presence of woodland dating back to the 1650s in this part of Kilkenny.

The 1st edition Ordnance Survey map (1839-1842) shows the forest site as being densely forested, little change has occurred in the woodland coverage between 1839 and present day (Figure 20). Woodlands townland contains 234 acres 1 rood and 12 perches with numerous trails evident criss-crossing the forest area. The majority of the townland is forested except for the northern portion which shows sub-rectangular and rectangular field plots with some houses evident. A road is located in the north-eastern quadrant running in a north-east south-west direction. There is no evidence of woodland in this area of the townland. There is a large house noted in the south-west corner of the forest site within Woodlands townland.

SMR KI023:001 (ringfort) is clearly evident to the east of the forest site within the townland of Garraun. The townland contains 181 acres 2 roods and 27 perches and shows tree-lined field boundaries in places with the majority of the land of a poor quality. In Grange townland to the south of Woodlands, 'Grange House' is shown in the northern portion with a formal garden to the south of the house and the majority of the field plots are tree-lined. A tree-lined avenue runs from south to north towards Grange House within the townland of Grange. Grange townland contains 287 acres 1 rood and 35 perches. A house called 'Farrannashanskill' is located to the south-east of Grange House with a small portion of woodland around the house on its west side. Rossdama townland to the west of Woodlands is devoid of trees but appears laid out in rectilinear field plots between 1839 and 1842. It contains 246 acres 3 roods and 25 perches.

Aughtanny townland is located north of Woodlands and shows 'Aughtanny House' at its centre. The townland contains 171 acres 2 roods and 9 perches but is devoid of woodland with some portions of the field plots of poor quality land. Castleinch or Inchyolaghan townland is located to the east of Woodlands and shows sparse tree coverage except in the southern portion where tree-lined field boundaries are visible. The northern portion of the townland shows no woodland but an area called 'Whirlpools' is indicated.

A 'Castle', 'Church and Graveyard' and 'Glebe' are noted in the south-eastern corner of the townland with some trees sparsely located to the south.

The 3rd edition Ordnance Survey map (1947) shows the townland of Woodlands much forested with portions of the northern quadrant now partially planted (Figure 21). Woodland townland contains 233 acres 1 rood and 38 perches by this time. The trails are still evident through the forest. There are very little changes in the surrounding townlands by 1947. However, the biggest change noted is the lack of trees present whether as part of field boundaries or sparsely planted areas near large houses. Grange townland to the south of Woodlands shows 'Grange House' while many of the previously indicated tree-lined field boundaries are not in evidence at this time. In addition within the townland of Castleinch or Inchyolaghan, much of the previously tree-lined areas and planted portions are no longer extant. SMR KI023:001 (ringfort) is still marked directly east of Woodlands townland. The townland of Garraun is devoid of forest cover as is the townland of Rossadama to the west. Aughtanny townland to the north shows 'Aughtanny House' but no forest cover in 1947.

2.7.2.4 History
"Cluain Ui-Cearbhaill, or the sheltered plain of O' Carroll, extended from Killarney to Sliabh gCaithle (Celtic name for the Coppenagh Hills). Ui-Cearbhall has been identified with the ancient tribe land of the 'Magh Mail' and being co-extensive with the present barony of Shillelogher, the Liberties of Kilkenny and the districts of Gowran.

Cearbhall Mac Dunghall, from whom this territory took its name of Ui-Cearbhaill, was King of Osraigh from 845 to 885. He was the founder of the Clann Cearbhall dynasty. Keallach, his son, succeeded him in 900. Keallach was killed at Bealach Mughna in 909. Donnchadh, son of Keallach, held the seat of government in the same locality as Cearbhall, his grandfather. Donnchadh was the ancestor of the Clann Donnchadh, or Mac Gillaphadraig's. He died in 974; so that from 845 to 974 'Cluain Ui-Cearbhaill' was the seat of government and locality of the king's mansion in Osraigh.

In the 'Nomina Patronorum Ecclesiarum in Dioecesi Ossoriensi, Eorumque Dies Ffestivi', also found in the 'Spicilegium', the two last churches in the Deanery of Siller (i.e. Shillallogher) is set down: 9I) 'Ecclesis de Ballybur'; no patron saint or festival day and (ii) De grange, Inventio S. Crucis, 3 Maii'. The word 'Siller' is seen by authorities as a contraction of the word 'Shillelogher'. The Deanery of Siller includes all the parishes in the barony of Shillelogher but two, viz., Inisnag and Stonecarty, which belong to the Deanery of Kells. The derivation of the word Shillelogher, and the origin of its application to this part of the County of Kilkenny, are lost in the obscurity of time" (Hogan 1884, 311).

Little is known about the settlement in Ossory before William succeeded in wresting Leinster from John, Lord of Ireland in 1192. Henry II had made provision at Oxford for the custody of Leinster to John, Lord of Ireland. Several grants were made while John was custodian of Leinster (1185-1192). Marshall was responsible for the organisation of Leinster around 1200 by dividing Leinster into four zones governed from Wexford, Carlow, Kildare and Kilkenny.

Marshall shared out central Ossory among his household knights. The cantred of Shillelogher was divided among a number of lesser knights. The more important fiefs in the cantred of Shillelogher included Tullaroan (Grace), Tullaghanbrogue (St. Leger), Ballybur with Castleinch (de Valle), Burnchurch (fitzGerald) and Kilferagh (Avenal) (Whelan and Nolan 1990, 76-77).

At this time there was a manor at Offerlane. In Shillelogher where many comital and episcopal estates were located, the general pattern was one of single manors, each with its own demesne sometimes hosting a manorial town and dependent tenements. The settlement here was an immigrant colonial population (Whelan and Nolan 1990, 79).

In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries county Kilkenny was divided for administrative purposes into twelve cantreds. One of these cantreds included Shillelogher, today the barony of Shillelogher in which the forest site is located.

Up to the 1640s county Kilkenny was dominated by a long established, territorial, political and social hierarchy headed by the Earl of Ormond, who directly ruled over 50,000 plantation acres from the castle at Kilkenny with lesser landowners and estates beneath him. Each family ruled a local 'fiefdom', their estates, manors and townlands often managed by members of the extended kin group (Whelan an Nolan 1990, 141).

The 1660 poll-tax is the first reliable indication of the settlement hierarchy after the Down Survey maps c.1656. In the Liberties of Kilkenny and Shillelogher, over two thirds of the larger settlements within them, were associated with gentry residence. One of the wealthiest baronies was Shillelogher at this time (Nolan and Whelan 1990, 147-148).

Whelan and Nolan indicate that an analysis of the barony of Shillelogher in cartographic surveys of the early nineteenth century show "large houses are shown by stylised profile drawings, interspersed in Shillelogher with an open rectangle or courtyard symbol. The trees in Shillelogher are fluffier than the others. Major roads are distinguished by thickening one of their two edges in Shillelogher barony" (Whelan and Nolan 1990, 448-449).

In Tighe's Statistical Survey of County Kilkenny, compiled towards the end of the last century (namely seventeenth century), in the list of parishes within the barony of Shillelogher, we find the parish of Inchihologhan. The incumbent of Inchihologhan was paid for doing the duty (ibid).

"Rev. Mr. Graves states that the Castle of Inchihologhan was probably the villa in which the Nuncio reposed on the night before his entrance into Kilkenny. The present high road from Kilkenny to Callan was constructed in 1750. This formed the principal entrance into the city of Kilkenny from the numerous mansions of the Anglo-Irish families in the south and south-western parts of the county. The road led directly from Tipperary to Inchiholaghan. The portion of this road which connected Ballybur with Inchiholaghan is now closed up, but its course through the fields is still traceable on the Ordnance Townland Survey (sheet 23); at about a mile nearer Kilkenny the fine old mansion of Inchiholaghan is located, modernised Castleinch" (Hogan 1884, 318).

"The Church of Inchiholaghan retains many traces of its by-gone importance with its ancient graveyard. St. David, Bishop of Menevia, in Wales, was honoured as the patron saint of this church and parish. St. David taught many Irish ecclesiastics and two saints of Ossory were trained by him in his school; namely Modomnoc of Fiddown and Scothian or Scuthin, of Tascoffin, on the John's-Well mountains. David, being a foreign saint, it seems probable that the churches dedicated to him in Ireland were founded by his own disciples; and hence is to be inferred that Inchiholaghan is a very primitive ecclesiastical establishment, and as old as the time when disciples of David were preaching in Ossory" (Hogan 1884, 318-19).

"The Feast of St. David continued to be observed in the form of a 'patron' on the first Sunday in March, the feast of the saint being the first day of the same month. The ceremonies of the 'patron' consisted in clearing away, on the day before, the rank weeds and grass from the graves, dressing them with fresh clay, and decorating them with flaggers and such field flowers as the season afforded. Prayers at the graves of relatives and pilgrimages performed round the graveyard were continued during the greater part of the day. St. David's Well is now converted to social uses and has completely lost its religious character; it is separated from the church by the present road, but is easily recognised in the 'castle field', opposite the entrance to the church. The field takes its name from a once important stronghold, the foundations of which are traceable under the green sward. This castle was the residence of another branch of the Comerford family" (Hogan 1884, 319).

"By an Inquisition taken at Gowran, 11th March, 1638, it was found that Gerald Comeford died on 24th October, 1604 possessed of the fee of the manor, lands, and tenements of Inchiholaghan, which he held from the King by knight' service in captive. Fulco Comerford, his son and heir, and then of full age, and not married, succeeded; and from another inquisition, taken at the Black Abbey, 17th April 1623, it was found that Fulco died on 2nd February 1623 and that at the time of his death he was found 'seized of the manor, town and lands of Inchiholaghan, with the advowson of the church belonging to the same manor; Gerald, his son and heir succeeded. Fourteen years after, Rinuccini on his way to Kilkenny, stopped at Inchiholaghan which was the place of his repose on the night of his entrance into the city" (ibid).

"This Gerald was the last of the Comerfords who either inherited the lands or inhabited the Castle of Inchiholaghan; for after the surrender of Kilkenny, Cromwell made over the castle, with the manor and lands, to Joseph Cuffe, Esq., ancestor to the present Earl of Desart. On the restoration of the second Charles, the Comerfords again took possession of their castle and lands, until in the 18th Charles II., Joseph Cuffe was confirmed in the possession of the castle, manor, lands etc of that estate which was ever afterwards to be called 'Castle-Inch'. This Joseph Cuffe is buried in the Church of Inchiholaghan, and his memory is perpetuated by a very elaborately finished mural entablature of white marble, erected in the north wall of the chancel, which bears the following incised inscription:

Sacred to the Pious Memory of
Joseph Cuffe, of Castleinch, Esq.,
Who died on Christmas Morning,
Between 9 and 10 o' clock, in the
Year of Our Lord 1697, and in the
58 year of his age.

The existence of this monument in its original site proves that the church in which it was erected had been the old church of the parish of Inchyolaghan from remote times. Before the disestablishment of the church, the church of Inchiholaghan had been from time immemorial the prebend of the chancellor and his predecessors who occupied Bamford Glebe House, who all as chancellors accepted Inchiholaghan as their prebendal church (Hogan 1884, 355). When the advowson passed from the Comerford family to the Cuffe family in 1623, in consequence, the right of possession to the living of Inchiholaghan continued vested in the Desart family down to the period of the Church Disestablishment. At present the church is closed up and no longer used for public service" (Hogan 1884, 320).

In the census of population for 1851 the parish of Castleinch or Inchyolaghan in the barony of Shilellogher contained 114 people and is recorded as containing 25 acres 1 rood and 34 perches.

General Background
Lewis gives an accurate account of the parish in the early nineteenth century as follows:
"Inchiolaghan, or Castleinch, also called 'Brownstown', a parish in the barony of Shillelogher, county of Kilkenny, and province of Leinster, two miles south-west from Kilkenny, on the road to Gort; contains 472 inhabitants. It comprises 3436 statue acres and has petty sessions every fortnight. There is Desart House, the residence of the Earl of Desart, and the place from which he takes his tithe. The mansion is a large and elegant building of hewn stone in a demesne of more than 400 plantation acres, which contains some remarkably fine oak timber. The other principal seats are Castle Bamford, the residence of R. Sullivan Esq; Tinny Park, of Mrs. Keating; and Bamford glebe, of the Rev. J. Kearney. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, united by act of council, about 1676, to the vicarage of Tullohanbrogue and the prebend of Outhrath, which together form the union of Inchiolaghan and the corporations of the chancellorship of the diocese of Ossory, in the patronage of the Crown. The tithes amount of £197.8.11 and a half, and the entire value of the chancellorship is £455.10. There is a glebe house with a glebe of 33 acres. The church is an ancient edifice, for the repair of which the Ecclesiastical Commission have lately granted £134. It is the burial place of the Cuffe family. In the Roman Catholic divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of St. Patrick's, and has a chapel. There is a public school of circa ninety children and a private school of circa seventy" (Lewis 1837, 16).

There are a number of notable house in the vicinity of the forest site including Grange House to the south-west; Aughtanny House to the north and Castleblunden House to the north-east.

Bence-Jones gives a detailed account of Castleblunden as follows:
"A highly romantic mid eighteenth century house with water on both sides of it so that it seems to float; the water being two lakes probably formed out of the moat of the earlier house or castle here. It was built either for John Blunden, MP, or for his son, Sir John Blunden, 1st Bt. Of three storeys over a vaulted basement; six bay front, central niche with statue below square armorial panel and above single-storey pedimented Doric portico. Quoins, rusticated surrounds to all the windows and the niche. Slightly sprocketed roof. The back of the house consists of two gables with a projection between then containing the principal and secondary staircases. The decoration of the interior is late eighteenth century and was probably carried out by the 2nd Bt. after his marriage to a bride who, according to Dorothea Herbert, brought him "a clear £8000 a year". Hall with frieze of rams' heads. Drawing room with ceiling of Adamesque plasterwork. Before 2nd Bt. married, he and his sisters kept the house constantly filled with young people in the evenings, there were boating parties on one of the lakes, when, according to Dorothea, the girls would step from the windows into the pleasure boats "whilst six or seven fiddles serenaded us on the water". The young men of the party would also serenade the girls at night outside their bedroom, and sometimes "burst in", catching them "en chemise". A wing has recently been added to the house, designed by Mr. Jeremy Williams, containing an additional sitting room" (Bence-Jones 1988, 63).

2.7.2.5 Folklore
There was no material revealed during an examination of the Department of Irish Folklore archive in UCD.

2.7.3 Field Inspection

2.7.3.1 Woodlands is a large site measuring 70 hectares. It is currently covered with some mature conifers although much of the site had been recently clear cut, a process underway at the time of survey. The site is clearly the remains of a large demesne and has the remains of some vernacular buildings and field walls (Plate 19) likely associated with tenant farmers. No new archaeological sites were identified.

One of these houses in particular (Plate 20) was in a good state of repair and would be worthy of conservation. Located at the northern end of the site it consists of a small two roomed cottage roughly 7m by 5m constructed of stone with redbrick surrounds. It has a lovely redbrick fireplace. The roof is in tatters but otherwise it appears to be structurally sound. Two other houses are marked on the map but as the undergrowth was so dense, only the first of these could be partially seen (Plate 22).

2.7.3.2 New Sites
There were no new archaeological sites identified as part of the forest survey.

2.7.4 Desk Study

2.7.4.1 The Recorded Monuments (Figure 18)
The Sites and Monuments record (SMR) of Dúchas-The Heritage Service, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands refers to the following sites within and in the environs of Woodlands Forest, County Kilkenny.

From the 6" Ordnance Survey maps, a list of the archaeological sites and their proximity to the woodland site was compiled.

SMR No. Distance to Woodlands Forest Site Type
KK023:001 200m E Ringfort
KK023:035 1280m SE Enclosure Site
KK023:030 1350m SW Ecclesiastical remains
KK023:030/01 1350m SW Church
KK023:030/02 1350m SW Graveyard
KK023:030/03 1350m SW Altar-Tomb
KK023:030/04 1350m SW Grave-Slab
KK023:030/05 1350m SW Architectural Fragment (s)
KK023:031/01 1250m S Earthwork(s)
KK023:032 1250m S Moated Site
KK019:038 580m E Horizontal Watermill
KK019:098 730m NW Quern Stone-Base
KK019:032 1430m NE Dwelling Site possible

There are no recorded archaeological sites within Woodlands Forest, County Kilkenny.

Within the environs of Woodlands Forest the following SMR sites are recorded:

SMR No. KK023:001
Townland Castleinch or Inchyolaghan
Barony Shillelogher
Parish Castleinch or Inchyolaghan
Site Type Ringfort
NGR 24662/15222
Height O.D. 240'-270'
Description The site is marked on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map and on the 3rd edition Ordnance Survey map (1947). No other details appear in the file.
Classification C
Area of Interest 30m
Distance 200m E

SMR No. KK023:035
Townland Raheenduff
Barony Shillelogher

Parish Grange
Site Type Enclosure Site
NGR 24705/15068
Height O.D. 270'
Description Marked on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map and on the 3rd edition Ordnance Survey map (1947). The site is situated on the upper reaches of an east facing slope with a limited view of the countryside from NNW-N-E. The site is now levelled. A curve in the field boundary indicates its former presence. The land is extremely wet on all sides but particularly in the area to the east of the enclosing site.
Classification C
Area of Interest 30m
Distance 1280m SE

SMR No. KK023:030
Townland Grove
Barony Shillelogher
Parish Tullaghanbrogue
Site Type Ecclesiastical Remains
01/ Church
02/ Graveyard
03/ 16th century Altar-Tomb
04/ Grave-Slab
05/ Architectural Fragments
NGR 24529/15013
Height O.D. 270'-300'
Description Appears on the 1st and 3rd edition (1947) Ordnance Survey maps. No other details in file.
Classification C
Area of Interest 100m
Distance 1350m SW

SMR No. KK023:031
Townland Grove
Barony Shillelogher
Parish Tullaghanbrogue
Site Type Deserted Settlement: Earthwork(s)
NGR 24562/15011
Height O.D. 240'-300'
Description Not marked on 1st or 3rd edition Ordnance Survey maps. The site appears on aerial photographs CUCAP: APD: 75: 1966 and GSAP: Roll 54, print 30. No other details appear in the file.
Classification C
Area of Interest 100m
Distance 1250m S

SMR No. KK023:032
Townland Grove
Barony Shillelogher

Parish Tullaghanbrogue
Site Type Moated Site
NGR 24551/15013
Height O.D. 270'-300'
Description Not marked on the 1st or 3rd edition Ordnance Survey maps. Aerial photographs exists of the site: CUCAP: AP5 75: 1966 and GSAP: Roll 54, print 30. No other details appear in the file.
Classification C
Area of Interest 30m
Distance 1250m S

SMR No. KK019:038
Townland Castleinch or Inchyolaghan
Barony Shillelogher
Parish Castleinch or Inchyolaghan
Site Type Horizontal Watermill
NGR 24737/15245
6" Co-Ordinates 67.5cm from west and 1.50cm from south
Height O.D. 240'-270'
Description The site is not marked on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map or on the 3rd edition O.S. map (1945-1946). The remains of a structure exist. Per comm. V. Buckley 1970, investigated by NMI (A.T. Lucas) 78/05/1955 forthcoming. No other details in the file.
Classification C
Area of Interest 50m
Distance 580m E

SMR No. KK019:098
Townland Damma Lower
Barony Shillelogher
Parish Castleinch or Inchyolaghan
Site Type Quern Stone-Base
NGR 25146/15789
Description Situated on south side of the Kilmanagh to Kilkenny road and just west of Damma Lower crossroads. The large base of a rotary quern, just outside the perimeter wall of a small house on south side of the road. It is executed in granite which contains lumps of quartz. It measures 0.64m in diameter and 0.25m high. A rim which formerly contained the upper part of the quern, 0.07m wide, projected 0.03m above the surface and is shattered on one side. Th shattered portion most likely contained a broad groove to discharge the milled grain. A small circular depression which marked the position of the hole in the upper stone occurs at the centre of the base (diameter 0.05m). The origins of the quern are not known. The occupant of the house (an elderly man) stated that it had been there as long as he could remember.
Classification N/A
Area of Interest N/A
Distance 730m NW

SMR No. KK019:032
Townland Castleblunden
Barony Shillelogher
Parish St. Patrick's
Site Type Dwelling Site possible
NGR 24770/15420
Height O.D. 240'-270'
Description The site is marked on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map as "Castleblunden" in gothic script and is also marked on the 3rd edition Ordnance Survey map (1945-1946) as "Castleblunden" but not in gothic script.
Bence-Jones describes the house as:
"A highly romantic mid eighteenth century house with water on both sides of it so that it seems to float; the water being two lakes probably formed out of the moat of the earlier house or castle here. It was built either for John Blunden, MP, or for his son, Sir John Blunden, 1st Bt. Of three storeys over a vaulted basement; six bay front, central niche with statue below square armorial panel and above single storey pedimented Doric portico. Quoins; rusticated surrounds to all the windows and the niche. Slightly sprocketed roof. The back of the house consists of two gables with a projection between them containing the principal and secondary staircases. The decoration of the interior is late eighteenth century and was probably carried out by the 2nd Bt. after his marriage to a bride who, according to Dorothea Herbert, brought him "a clear £8000 a year". Hall with frieze of rams' heads. Drawing room with ceiling of Adamesque plasterwork. Before 2nd Bt. Married, he and his sisters kept the house constantly filled with young people; in the evenings, there were boating parties on one of the lakes, when, according to Dorothea, the girls would step from the windows into the pleasure boat "whilst six or seven fiddles serenaded us on the water". The young men of the party would also serenade the girls at night outside their bedrooms, and sometimes "burst in", catching them "en chemise". A wing has recently been added to the house, designed by Mr Jeremy Williams, containing an additional sitting room" (Bence-Jones 1988, 62-63).
Classification B
Area of Interest 100m
Distance 1430m NE

2.7.4.2 The desk study revealed no recorded archaeological sites within the forest and eight known archaeological sites within the surrounding townlands.

2.7.4.3 Stray finds
The Topographical Files of the National Museum of Ireland were examined in which all stray finds are provenanced to townland. The following is a list of the townlands within and in the environs of Woodlands forest.

Townland Proximity to Forest
Woodlands Adjacent to North-East
Castleinch Within
Garraun Adjacent to South-East
Grange Adjacent to South and South-East
Rossdama Adjacent to South West
Aughtanny Adjacent to North

There was one stray find recorded from the townland of Castleinch or Inchyolaghan in the adjacent townland to the north-east. This comprised an almost complete medieval ceramic jug described below. There are no stray finds recorded from adjacent and surrounding townlands in the vicinity of Woodlands forest site.

Townland Castleinch or Inchyolaghan
Barony Shillelogher
Parish Castleinch or Inchyolaghan
6" Co-Ordinates 29.50cm from west and 1cm from north
Registration No. Record
Find(s) Glazed pottery; Jug-Medieval
Acquisition Record
Description Almost complete wheel-thrown jug in buff pink ware. The core is darker in colour and contains small mica flecks. A few dark grey pebble grits (up to 3mm) appear on the outer surface near the base. Globular body with cylindrical neck. The latter is rilled externally. Rounded rim with raised ridge underneath. The rim is provided with a pinched out pouring lip. The strap handle, rectangular in cross section, bears marked finger tip impressions at the junction with the rim. Two lighter impressions occur at the lower junction. The handle is ornamental wit three deeply incised grooves along its length. Base convex externally and the junction of wall and base is pinched downward by a series of spaced oval thumb impressions. The body bears an uneven sprinkled on copper green glaze which is yellow where the glaze runs thin, especially near the base.
Height 24.50cm; Diameter at rim 10cm; Maximum Diameter 21cm; Diameter of base 15cm; Average body thickness 5mm. The object was found on the site of Castleinch Castle at a depth of 12 feet.

2.7.5 Predicted Impacts
The scale of works planned for this site will involve both clearfelling and planting. Both of these processes are inherently destructive with ground disturbances associated with the use of heavy machinery (for tree removal) and preparation of the land for planting (with the excavation of drainage ditches).

While the areas to be affected have been surveyed in an attempt at locating and identifying previously unknown archaeological sites, no new sites were revealed. However, it must be borne in mind that archaeological remains with little above ground surface expression may survive below the ground surface. Such features would only be revealed during earthmoving and ground preparation works where such archaeological sites would be directly compromised by these subsequent works. Please see the mitigations and recommendation section in volume 1 for suggested mitigations.

*Please note that it was not possible to reproduce figures for inclusion on the website version of the reports.