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CASTLE, HOUSE OR ABBEY?

Although we now say ‘Kylemore Abbey’, when it was completed in 1871 the
building was first known as Kylemore Castle. It is now called Kylemore Abbey

because it is home to the Benedictine nuns and their home is always called an
abbey. Why was the name Kylemore ‘Castle’ chosen when it was built for the
Henry family as a home?

Originally a castle was a strong stone building with high walls designed to keep out invading enemies and
their weapons. These types of castles were first built hundreds of years ago, as far back as the 10th century.
This was known as the Medieval period.

Battlements with crenels and merlons

Windsor Castle Bunratty Castle Medieval Castles
1070 1425

What type of castle is Kylemore?

Kylemore Castle was designed by an architect called James Franklin Fuller and an engineer called
Samuel Usher Roberts; they used a style called Baronial Gothic. This was based on the design of
much older castles from the Medieval period but used modern engineering and materials. In the
time since the older, defensive castles, most wealthy people had been living in grand houses built
to classical design principles, but in the Victorian era, a style modelled on the features of Medieval
castles became popular. The name ‘castle’ came into fashion along with the turrets and castellations!

To build Baronial Gothic castles some architectural details were borrowed from the past:
• Battlements with crenels and merlons (tooth-shaped ledges from which soldiers could fire arrows and
behind which they could hide during an attack)
• Stone mullioned windows (vertical uprights that divide a window opening)
• Mock arrow slits (Medieval castles had narrow windows for archers to shoot from)
• Oriel Window (A window which protrudes from the building)
• Turrets and Towers
• High stone walls
• Crow-step gable (a gable that forms a step-like pattern)
• Coat of Arms over the front door
• A flag with the family coat of arms flying from the roof
• A big arched oak door

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