| Description |
The original castle was burnt circa 1820 (Bence Jones) when the owner was Henry Grace Langley. His nephew Major Henry Langley began to build a Medieval Revival castle to the design of William V. Morrison but died when only the gate tower was completed. The Irish Tourist Association surveyor wrote that it was to be a replica of Warwick Castle. In 1840 the Ordnance Survey Name Books commented that Brittas Castle was "a modern unfurnished building on a most magnificent scale but in all probability it will never be finished"! In the mid 19th century Henry Langley held the castle valued at £30 from the Court of Chancery. The sale rental of December 1853 records Thomas Kirwan as the tenant of the castle and 464 acres for 7 years from 25 March 1851 pending the cause of Langley v Langley. From 1853 Brittas belonged to the Knox family who lived in a single storey house located behind the gate tower. This house was described as a mansion house in 1906, valued at £25 and occupied by Fitzroy Knox. |
