Castletown Gate House,Celbridge, Kildare, Ireland

Description

(Reference number: 54676)

The Gate House at Castletown is one of three adjoining gatelodge buildings situated at the the bottom of a tree lined avenue leading to Castletown House, the most significant Palladian country house in Ireland.

This charming building, recently restored by the Irish Landmark Trust and now available as self-catering accommodation, features one double and one single bedroom, a spacious fully equipped kitchen with an outdoor and indoor dining area, a living room and one bathroom fitted with bathtub and shower and conveniently located on the ground floor, ideal for people with limited mobility. Compared to the other lodges the Gate Lodge has a bowed projecting entrance bay to the front which adds to the unique character of this building.

Unfortunately very little historical information remains for the Gate Lodges but the Gate House has definite construction date of 1783.

Family papers note that the gate piers were completed in 1783 and suggest that the lodge nearest the gate, now called The Gate House, was also complete at this time and occupied by an elderly couple.

The town of Celbridge itself has a deep historical background and is also the birthplace of Arthur Guinness, founder of the Guinness Brewery family business.