Ashtown Castle by Second Class

Our class visited Ashtown Castle in the Phoenix Park. We went into the visitors centre and were shown a video. We also went into the old castle. We got a work sheet all about the Phoenix Park. We had to fill in questions about the deer and the band stand and the polo grounds and lots more.

Here are some of the things we learned:

Ashtown castle is in the Phoenix Park. It has a very interesting history.

Did you ever hear of a castle that was lost for many, many years? Well Ashtown Castle was. Another big house was built around it. It was not until this house was being demolished that the castle was rediscovered.

The governemnt first bought the lands in 1664. The man who looked after the lands and minded the deer got the castle to live in. His name was Sir William Flower.

When the castle was found experts decided that the roof truss dated back to the early 17th century. THat was how they knoe how old it was. The restoration work began in 1989.

It was the home of many famous people including the papal Nuncio Dr. Alibrandi. It was in poor condition and when it was being knocked down it was then they found the castle underneath.