Lets act as Historians:

• Can you tell me what you know about the Norman's and the Norman castle in Leighlinbridge.
• Can you tell me what you would like to learn about the Normans and the Norman castle in Leighlinbridge.
• Finally at the end of our four weeks on this project our aim is for you to be able to tell me all that you have learned about the Normans and the Norman castle in Leighlinbridge.

Our KWL Chart:

 

If you have any questions or ideas you can write them up here and we will discuss them together in class and  come come to a solution.

Remember that this is jigsaw learning and so all of our learning will collaborate at the end.

 

Happy learning!!

The Black Castle in Leighlinbridge:

The 'Black Castle' in Leighlinbridge is one of the earliest Norman Castles in Ireland.The original "Black Castle" was erected by Hugh de Lacy in 1181, while the present castle is reported to have been built by Sir Edward Bellingham in 1547. This is a picture of the black castle from a distance whic was take from the Penny Journal in 1840.

History of the Black Castle:

Leighlinbridge is home one of the earliest Norman castles in Ireland. In 1181 Lord Hugh de Lacy built the first castle here to defend the strategic crossing of the River Barrow after taking the surrounding lands from Irish clans. In 1320 the First "Black Castle" was built. There are no visible remains of either of these two castles. The ruin on the site today is reported to have been built by Sir Edward Bellingham, Lord Deputy of Ireland, in 1547. The south western corner of the castle has collapsed. In the adjoining garden lay fragments of a bawn wall with arrow slits at the corner. The castle was held by the Kavanaghs and the Butlers and was also occupied by Sir Peter Carew and the Bagenals. For 150 years, the Kavanaghs charged English lords “black rent” for safe passage over the river. The castle was destroyed by Cromwellian forces, under Colonel Hewson, in 1650 during the Irish Confederate.