Marks of Time
Historic Buildings as  illustrations of the past.
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the Normans




The The ascendancy of  the Cenel Eoghain capital of Derry- Columbkille, indeed the whole concept of  High  Kingship on the island, was dealt a major blow by the coming of the  Anglo-Normans  to Ireland  in 1169. Surprisingly, Derry  was never settled by the Normans, but they attacked it in 1197,  1199,1212  and 1213, removing treasures from its churches. The shrine of the Cathach, shown here, is typical of the type. It was made to house the book that St Columbkille was said to have copied and which resulted in his exile to Scotland.

The most visible sign of their presence in the area, the  great castle of  Northburg at Greencastle,  was  commenced in1305. This is thought to be based upon Caernarfon in  Wales and  relied upon high curtain  walls for defence. It had a lower ward and higher  inner ward which included a  timber ‘great hall’.


The Normans introduced a new form of defensive  architecture: the regular stone tower house or ‘keep’ which replaced many of  their initial timber forts. This spawned many imitations in the North West over the next 300 years.


There are examples at Elaghmore, Burt, Inch, Buncrana, Ballyliffin, and  Culmore (a Victorian folly). Examples are also known to have existed at  Derry,  Enagh Lough, Dungiven Priory, Limavady, Aganaloo, Dunalong and Lifford.  The majority of these buildings were constructed in the fifteenth century


Picture
                        Cathach shrine,  c.1090.
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                        Northburg Castle, Greencastle, 1305.
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                           Burt Castle, 1587.

            
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