Walled Towns of Ireland

Town walls were a common heritage for many Irish towns over long periods. The majority date from the Anglo-Norman period, but trends can be recognised which represent common themes throughout the centuries, especially the use of walled towns as ‘refuges’ for colonization projects. This study identifies, through surviving structures and documentary and murage evidence, the walled towns of Ireland. It provides a comprehensive investigation of site, shape, size (walled area and circuit length), structure (curtain walls, gates and towers, fosse, ramparts, associated castle/forts and harbours) and construction, including length of time and financial arrangements. Defensive and other uses are considered. Volume 2 is the gazetteer companion of volume 1. It comprises most of the larger and more important walled towns and includes as well many of the smaller Irish towns and even some whose development failed to make progress.