The Tower House was one of at least six fortified tower houses in Newcastle about 1640. These were the houses of the rich. The original doorway is facing away from the road.

The tower house across the road has a murder hold - a hold just above the door which was used for dropping down rocks or boiling water on unwanted visitors.

We know from these tower houses that Newcastle was a wealthy village in the middle ages but it was destroyed by the Earl of Ormonde in 1642 and it is probable that the tower houses were ruined at this time.

Newcastle never really recovered from Ormonde's revenge on the people for supporting rebelling Catholic troops in the village in 1641.

A tower house from around 1400.

A tower house from around 1450.