Blackwater Castle (Castle Widenham, or Blackwater Valley Castle) Castletownroache, Co Cork, Whole House Rental
https://www.blackwatercastle.com/
The website tells us:
“A medieval Castle for rent in Ireland, the spectacular home of the former Viscount of Fermoy and Lords of the Barony of Fermoy, is a truly unique heritage site of international significance. Blackwater Castle, with a history extending back some 10,000 years to the Mesolithic period, is available to hire as a private Castle experience for exclusive Castle weddings, private parties, and family gatherings.
“The Castle was first erected in the twelfth century on the site of the Bronze Age fortress of Dún Cruadha, an inland promontory fort which was established some 2,500 years ago or more on a rocky outcrop on the banks of the River Awbeg. Beautifully appointed suites, welcoming reception rooms, historical tours, and extensive activities from zip-lining to fly fishing are all on offer at one of Ireland’s more interesting and best preserved castles set on a 50 acre estate of mature native Irish trees with a private stretch of the River Awbeg.
“Visitors gracing the Castle down through the centuries include Early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, Druids and Chieftains, Strongbow’s Men at Arms, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Michael Jackson while Oliver Cromwell and his army also laid siege to the Castle. More recently we have received the President of Ireland Uachtarán Michael D. Higgins who described the Castle as a “beautiful place” and set in “a majestic and pastoral environment”. This exquisite Castle is available for private exclusive hire as the perfect venue for castle weddings, private parties and self catering holiday vacation rentals. Guesthouse options are also available for group bookings.
“The Castle is a highly recommended venue with a coveted 5 star rating on Tripadvisor where we rank as the Best Speciality Accommodation in Cork. We were winners of the Best Hospitality, Tourism and Food Venue in the North Cork Business Awards 2017 while we have been selected for five consecutive years by One Fab Day as one of the best wedding venues in Ireland. in October 2015 The Irish Times listed us among the top ten Castles in Ireland while The Irish Examiner declared on 6 May 2015 that Blackwater Castle was one of only six Irish wedding venues you ever need in your “wedding venue little black book”.
“Blackwater Castle is the original seat of the FitzHugh/Roche Family who travelled to Ireland with Strongbow in the late twelfth century. The Castle is located on an elevated site (and former inland promontory fort) above the River Awbeg with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside from the Norman Tower which is reputed to be one of the best preserved medieval keeps in Ireland. Blackwater Castle is blessed with a rich historical legacy the traces of which, dating from the early Mesolithic period or some 10,000 years ago, are visible today and are entertainingly and enthusiastically revealed and interpreted via guided tour with the owner Patrick Nordstrom.“
Mark Bence-Jones also tells us of the castle (1988):
p. 79. Castle Widenham: “(Roche of Fermoy, V/DEP; Brasier-Creagh/IFR; Smyth/IFR; Cotter, Bt/PB)
The old castle of the Viscounts Roche of Fermoy, on a rock high above the Awbeg River; consisting of a tall keep and a baily enclosed by a curtain wall with bastions and other fortifications. During the Civil War the castle was heroically defended against the Cromwellian forces by the Lady Roche of the time but she was eventually obliged to surrender. The estate was confiscated and granted to the Widenham family [to Colonel John Widenham in 1666, when it became known as Castle Widenham]; Lord Roche failed to recover it after the Restoration and was reduced to dire poverty. Later, in C17 or early C18 a house of two storeys and an attic was built onto the keep, incorporating some of the walls of the old castle; it stood within the bailey, the wall of which was still intact 1790s. Ca 1820s, Henry Mitchell Smyth [1795-1870, from Ballynatray, the gardens of which are on the Section 482 listing], whose wife Patricia (nee Brasier-Creagh) [1802-1837]was the eventual heiress of the Widenhams [via her mother, Elizabeth Widenham], castellated the house and extended it at the opposite end to the old keep; giving it a skyline of battlements and machiolations and a turreted porch on its entrance front. Probably at the same time, the bailey wall was largely demolished; though parts of it still survive, together with some of the outworks and a detached building which is thought to have been a chapel. A terrace ws built along the garden front later in C19 by H.J. Smyth. The rooms of the house have plain cornices and charming Georgian-Gothic shutters in the deep window recesses; the drawing room has segmental pointed doorways with rope ornament. The principal staircase has slender turned balusters, there is also a delightful little spiral staircase of wood, rather similar to that at Dunsany Castle, which goes up to the attic storey, whence a door leads into an upper room of the keep. From ca 1963-76, Castle Widenham was the home of Sir Delaval Cotter, 6th and present Bt [6th Baronet Cotter, of Rockforest, Co. Cork] – whose old family seat, Rockforest, was nearby. Sir Deleval and Lady Cotter carried out an admirable restoration of the castle, which was in poor condition when they bought it; the rooms, as redecorated by them, were greatly improved and gained much from their fine furniture and the Cotter family portraits. They also made a garden in the outworks of the castle and opened up the views down to the river, which had become completely overgrown. Unfortunately, in 1976, circumstances oblighed them to sell it and move to England.”
The Buildings of Ireland. Cork City and County. Frank Keohane. Yale University Press: New Haven and London. 2020.
p. 24. Also during the first half of the C18, a small group of “towered” houses were built. Glanmire House (now Colaiste an Phiarsaigh) and Mohera House (Castlelyons) have projecting single-bay corner blocks, Annesgrove at Carrigtwohill and the rectory at Schull (1724) have been lost. Unlike in other parts of Ireland, few medieval tower houses continued to be inhabited into the C18 and C19. Exceptions include Castle Mary (Cloyne) and Duarrigle Castle (Millstreet), where the towers were fully incorporated within new houses. At Castle Widenham (Castletownroche) and Castle Salem (Rosscarbery), the new houses took the form of largely independent wings added to the tower.
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-list.jsp?letter=C
Originally a Roche stronghold, the castle was granted to the Widenhams in the mid 17th century. The castle was altered in both the 18th and 19th centuries. In the early 19th century it passed by marriage to the Brazier Creagh family and again by marriage to the Smyths. At the time of Griffith’s Valuation the buildings were valued at £70 and held by Henry M. Smyth from Henry Leader. In 1894 it was the seat of Mrs. Smyth. In 1942 the Irish Tourist Association survey noted that it was still part of the Smyth family estate. Also known as Blackwater Castle, it is still extant.
https://www.geni.com/projects/Historic-Buildings-of-County-Cork/29338
Blackwater Castle, Restored Castle built around the late 1200s as a fortress by the Cambro-Norman grandsons of Maurice FitzGerald, Alexander and Raymond FitzHugh, later in de hands of the Roche family till it was passed on in 1666 to Colonel John Widenham then changed the name to Wideham Castle. At the moment the restored castle has his original name again.
For sale November 2022
€2,000,000
Blackwater Castle, Castletownroche, County Cork
9 beds
890m 2
Eircode: P51 K765
SPECIAL FEATURES • Blackwater Castle is a true medieval site of architectural importance. • An ancient promontory fort dating from the late Bronze age/Iron age. • Habitable sections of the castle date from the early 15th century making Blackwater Castle one of the oldest habitable houses in Ireland. • Approx. 890 sq. m (9,579 sq. ft) of living space including 9 bedrooms, 6 reception rooms, professional kitchen, dry store, large utility and basement restrooms. • Glorious setting of approx. 24ha (60 Acres) of grounds laid out in mature Irish woodlands. • Approximately 1km of the River Awbeg running through the estate, with private double bank fishing rights to the river. • Architectural features include a 12th century round tower, a 15th century tower house, watch towers, Sheela na Gig, defence walls and the Holy Well of St. Patrick. • Splendid stone fronted courtyard. • A delightful walled garden which has been lovingly maintained. • A 500m walk from the village of Castletownroche • Approx. 16km to Mallow and Fermoy • Just over one hour to Cork International Airport
HISTORICAL NOTE Blackwater Castle, one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in Ireland, is steeped in heritage with a history that extends back some 10,000 years. The Castle has played host to nobility throughout the centuries, being a centre for hospitality from past to present and home to Gaelic Chieftains and Norman Lords. It remains a sought after location with recent visitors including President Michael D Higgins and The King of Pop Michael Jackson. Less welcome visitors in the past include Sir Walter Raleigh who captured the castle in 1580 and Oliver Cromwell who laid siege to the castle in 1649. Once home to the Viscount of Fermoy and the Lords of the Barony of Fermoy, this magnificent mansion is a now a unique monument of significance. The site’s history spans thousands of years, originally populated during the early Mesolithic period. There is further evidence that the site had been occupied during the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age too when it was known as the fortress of Dún Crúadha. Blackwater Castle is also a site of spiritual significance; below the castle near the River Awbeg is the Holy Well of St. Patrick. “Below the castle and near the margin of the river, is a holy well, dedicated to St. Patrick, on whose anniversary a patron is held here: the water is remarkably pure, and is much esteemed by the peasantry for its supposed virtues.” An excerpt from Lewis’ Cork (1998) book detailing how the well is renowned for its clear and pure water along with being a place of holy pilgrimage.
THE SHEELA NA GIG AT BLACKWATER CASTLE Sheela na Gigs (Síle na gcíoch in Irish) are figurative stone sculptures of women in the birthing position that were venerated as powerful emblems in ancient cultures across the world. The sculptures are sacred symbols and architectural grotesques which represent fertility in women and in the natural world. Sheela has a clear indentation around the vulva where it has been touched down through the centuries. The dust from rubbing the sculpture was supposed to have magical fertility or healing ability, and this belief is still held in the community. The Sheela Na Gig at Blackwater Castle is located on the ground floor of the tower house and dates from the early Christian period, maybe as early as the 9th century. The first historical record of the Sheela was documented by ordnance surveyors in 1837 when it was positioned by the river’s edge. It was later relocated to the Castle by 1934, where she has remained since. BLACKWATER CASTLE The south of Ireland is dotted with castles, built sometimes as fortifications, and more frequently as places for their lucky owners to make the most of their good fortune in safe and peaceful settings. While some of these are now little more than romantic ruins, others, such as Blackwater Castle, are thriving in the hands of a generation of visionaries. The castle is currently run as an exclusive wedding and banqueting venue with many international clients falling in love with the beauty of the location. The castle is an ideal home to enjoy a piece of Irish history and be at one with the tranquillity of the peaceful setting of this wonderful property. Blackwater Castle sits regally on the highest point of the grounds, looking out over the spectacular River Awbeg, and its valley, a rich and royal landscape. With the build timeline extending from c. 1190 to c. 1825, this commanding fort is the perfect example of a medieval castle with many of the original Norman features still intact. The multispecies tree lined avenue, looking down over the vast valley and winding river, leads up to the enchanting castle front. On approach you are greeted by the Norman tower house. The original round tower which dates from the late 12th Century is currently inaccessible. The Norman tower house built mid-15th Century is mainly intact with the ground and two main floors, the roof and spiral staircase all in remarkable condition. Throughout this Norman Keep, you will find all the standard features to fend off attackers such as uneven steps (trip steps), a murder hole, batter walls, and a garderobe. The roof of the tower gifts panoramic views of the surrounding splendid countryside. On entering the main residence, the bulk of which to the right forms part of the original medieval hall of the castle dating to circa early 1400’s. To the left a section was added on to the main building circa the late 1700’s. A further addition was made to the main building (now the Piano Room) and was added on circa 1825. The castellated parapets and battlements to the rear continue to be reminiscent of the medieval features which would have protected the Castle in the past. The accommodation boasts 9 spacious suites, sleeping up to 23 people across the first and second floors. The 6 welcoming reception rooms include a Breakfast Room, Dining Room, Tea Room, a Bar Area, a Piano Room and Library (known as Headquarters). A fully equipped commercial kitchen is spacious and offers the potential to continue a catering enterprise at the castle. GARDENS AND GROUNDS Blackwater Castle, built at the tip of this ancient promontory fort, is set on approximately 24ha (60 Acres) of gardens and woodland, with the River Awbeg flowing around the base of the fortress in a horseshoe shape. Mature woodland in a steep valley surrounds the imposing Castle and its courtyard while expanses of neat mown lawn create some lovely open spaces around the castle itself. 1km (approx.) of the flowing waters of the River Awbeg grant you private double bank fishing rights. Fishing enthusiasts can enjoy the delights the waters have to offer, mainly Brown Trout. To the rear of the castle there is a large stone fronted courtyard, originally forming part of the Norman “outer bailey” with huge potential and with such uses as residential, commercial, and other business types, subject to the relevant planning permission. These spaces were created for the golden age of horse-drawn transport and are exceptionally atmospheric. The Courtyard is adjacent to a spectacular approximately 1.5 acre walled garden which is is both fascinating and beautiful. The stone arch entrance is captivating due to the draping canopy of wisteria cascading over the gates. The fertile Irish soil encourages a plentiful harvest of fruits and vegetables in the garden every year. Bordered by dense shrubbery, the gardens include variations of vegetable and fruit species such as peach, pear, apple, cherries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, and raspberries, all wonderfully presented. A quaint greenhouse provides a space of quiet reflection and allows for the growing of exotic fruit and vegetables such as melons and chilli.
LOCATION The picturesque village of Castletownroche, Co. Cork winds around the perimeter of Blackwater Castle. The village supplies locals with the necessities including a post office, pharmacy, hairdressers, small supermarket, petrol station, pubs and takeaways. Being surrounded by mature woodland and positioned at the end of a 350m long driveway, the property is very private despite being so close to the village centre. The castle is on the N72, equidistant between Mallow and Fermoy, two thriving market towns in Cork. It will take an approx. 15 minute drive to Mallow Golf Club and Mallow Town, where there is a wide range of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants as well as national, primary and secondary schools. There is a wide range of sporting activities available in the area, from golfing to fishing, horse riding and racing to hill walking, as well as football, rugby and GAA. The train station at Mallow is on the main line between Dublin and Cork on the N72, while national routes link with the motorway network at the M8 junction, just under twenty minutes’ drive away. Blackwater Castle is both an oasis of tranquillity, and an ideal base in this thriving part of Ireland. 500m – Castletownroche, within walking distance. 16km Mallow 16km – Fermoy 42km – Cork City 54km – Cork International Airport 73km – Limerick City 96km – Shannon International Airport 237km – Dublin City 242km – Dublin International Airport SERVICES Well Water | Septic Tanks | Natural Spring plumbed directly into castle supply (with backup connection to the mains supply)| Mains Electricity| Fire hydrant connection| Gas fired boiler with heat pump
Accommodation
BER Details
Exempt
Negotiator
Roseanne De Vere Hunt
https://www.blackwatercastle.com
CASTLE FOR RENT IRELAND – BLACKWATER CASTLE
A medieval Castle for rent in Ireland, the spectacular home of the former Viscount of Fermoy and Lords of the Barony of Fermoy, is a truly unique heritage site of international significance. Blackwater Castle, with a history extending back some 10,000 years to the Mesolithic period, is now available to hire as a private Castle experience for exclusive Castle weddings, private parties, and family gatherings.
The Castle was first erected in the twelfth century on the site of the fortress of Dun Cruadha, an inland promontory fort which was established some 2,500 years ago or more on a rocky outcrop on the banks of the River Awbeg. Beautifully appointed suites, welcoming reception rooms, historical tours and extensive activities from zip-lining to fly fishing are all on offer at one of Ireland’s more interesting and best preserved castles set on a 50 acre estate of mature native Irish trees with a private stretch of the River Awbeg.
Visitors gracing the Castle down through the centuries include Early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, Druids and Chieftains, Strongbow’s Men at Arms, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Michael Jackson while Oliver Cromwell and his army also laid siege to the Castle. More recently we have received the President of Ireland Uachtaran Michael D. Higgins who described the Castle as a “beautiful place” and set in “a majestic and pastoral environment”. This exquisite Castle is available for private exclusive hire as the perfect venue for castle weddings, private parties and self catering holiday vacation rentals. Guesthouse options are also available for group bookings.
The Castle is a highly recommended venue with a coveted 5 star rating on Tripadvisor where we rank as the Best Speciality Accommodation in Cork (out of 76) while we are rated in the top three in Munster (of 331). We were winners of the Best Hospitality, Tourism and Food Venue in the North Cork Business Awards 2017 while in October 2015 The Irish Times listed us among the top ten Castles in Ireland.
Rent Castle Ireland
This exceptional Castle for rent is located in the heart of Southern Ireland nestled in the fertile hills of North Cork near the picturesque village of Castletownroche. Blackwater Castle is the original seat of the FitzHugh/Roche Family who travelled to Ireland with Strongbow in the late twelfth century (for more information on the history of the Castle click here). The Castle is located on an elevated site (and former inland promontory fort) above the River Awbeg with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside from the Norman Tower which is reputed to be one of the best preserved medieval keeps in Ireland. Blackwater Castle is blessed with a rich historical legacy the traces of which, dating from the early Mesolithic period or some 10,000 years ago, are visible today and are entertainingly and enthusiastically revealed and interpreted via guided tour with the owner Patrick Nordstrom.
A stay at Blackwater Castle is a unique experience blending history and heritage with luxurious comfort, exciting activities, and beautiful scenery all in a manner customised to your particular requirements be it a quiet family gathering or a large wedding. The Castle is the genuine article – the tower facing East dates from the 12th Century while the Western keep was erected in the 15th Century but the site itself has a 10,000 year old history. The accommodation and reception rooms of the Castle between the two towers were renovated in the late 17th Century but the foundations and walls were almost certainly originally erected in the early 15th century which would make Blackwater Castle one of the oldest habitable buildings in Ireland and certainly one of the oldest continually occupied homes in Ireland. The Castle is a true example of how such structures, if looked after with tender loving care, can evolve down through the centuries from providing a fortress for ancient Irish Chieftains to accommodating Anglo-Norman overlords and subsequently British settlers. The Vikings are once again back in Ireland as the Castle is now in the ownership of the Finlandian Nordstrom Family Trust and home to Patrick and Sheila Nordstrom, your host family, who have opened the doors of this historic estate of international significance to make the Castle available to rent so that it can be shared with all who appreciate Irish heritage.
Step back in time through all phases of Irish history at Blackwater Castle which has evolved gently down through the millenia. Lewis’ Cork, published in 1837, described the Castle in memorable evocative terms, and this description still rings true almost 200 years later. Mr. Lewis writes that the Castle is
“situated on the summit of a rocky eminence overhanging the river, the banks of which here are richly wooded, and commands extensive and varied prospects over the surrounding country, itself forming a conspicuous and beautiful object from every point of view. The tower or keep of the ancient fortress has been incorporated in the present structure, which is in a style of corresponding character and rises, majestically above the woods in which it is embosomed, forming a strikingly romantic feature in the landscape. The castle, with its outworks, occupied a considerable extent of the ground surrounded by a strong rampart with parapet and turrets, of which a large proportion is still remaining: there is a descent to the river of 100 steps cut in the solid rock, for supplying the Castle with water.”
The Castle still rises majestically above the glen of the river Awbeg and continues to form a “strikingly romantic feature” in the landscape of the area.
Flexible Terms
Guests can be accommodated in this Castle rental on a self catering, partial, or fully catered basis and the entire grounds of the Castle (or parts of it) are available for exclusive hire. The Castle sleeps 23 across 9 suites while larger groups can be accommodated in the Courtyard which sleeps a further 47 in our Garden Apartments and dormitory accommodation. Everything is possible here and Patrick and Sheila are on hand to accommodate all requests. No matter how you choose to enjoy all that is on offer at Blackwater Castle, be it an exclusive castle wedding, self catering vacation or holiday rental, family gathering, private party or Castle heritage experience, when you are here, you are at home!
| 1170+ | Fitz-Hughs build Tower & Chapel (still standing) |
| 1185 | Death of Raymond Fitz-Hugh |
| 1202 | Alexander establishes Bridgetown Priory (in ruins) |
| Early 13th C – 1229 | David de la Roche |
| 1229 -1262 | Gerald de la Roche |
| 1262 – 1300 circa | David de la Roche |
| 1300 – 1374 | David de la Roche – First Lord Roche |
| 1365 | Lord Roche knighted by King Edward III |
| 1374 – 1387 | John, Lord Roche |
| 1387 – 1448 | Maurice, Lord Roche |
| 1448 – 1488 | David The Great, Lord Roche, First Viscount of Fermoy |
| 1450+ | Construction of Keep (accessible throughout) |
| 1470 (circa) | David created a Viscount |
| 1488 – Early 16th Century | Maurice, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy |
| Early 16th Century – 1544 | David, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy |
| 1544 – 1561 | Maurice “The Mad”, Lord Roche, Viscount Fermoy |
| 1561 – 1583 | David, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy |
| 1570 (circa) | Knighted by Sir Henry Sydney, Lord Deputy of Ireland |
| 1565 & 1572 | Receives letters from Queen Elizabeth I |
| 1576 | Sir Henry Sydney visits Roche Castle |
| 1578 | Start of the Decline of House of Roche |
| 1580 | Sir Walter Raleigh takes the Castle |
| 1583 – 1600 | Maurice, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy |
| 1597 | Maurice imprisoned |
| 1600 – 1635 | David, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy |
| 1600 | Appeals to Queen Elizabeth I |
| 1635- 1670 | Maurice, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy |
| 1636 | King Charles I summons Maurice to London |
| 1641 | King Charles I releases Maurice from prison |
| 1642 | Skirmishes by Lord Inchiquin |
| 1650 | Cromwell’s forces attack – Lady Roche defends |
| 1652 | Lady Roche hanged |
| 1652 | Lord Roche surrenders and estate is confiscated |
| 1666 | Estate awarded to Colonel John Widenham |
| 1666 – 1963 | Castle stays with Widenham family |
| 1963 – 1976 | Lord & Lady Cotter |
| 1976 – 1991 | Various owners |
| 1991 – to date | Nordstrom Family Trust |
David (de Rupe) de la Roche – Lord Roche– Sir David 1300 – 1374
David was a minor when he inherited his grandfather’s estate and had a long reign consolidating the influence of the Roches in the region. In 1351 and 1356 we know he received letters from King Edward III indicating his position of power at the time. By the early 14thcentury he was known as Lord Roche and by 1358 he was signing letters as “Lord of Fermoy” and was the first of the Roches to assume this title. Furthermore while previous incumbents were officially addressed as “de la Rupe” David became the first to be formally addressed as “de la Roche”. By the mid 14th Century many of the High Anglo Norman settlers had totally seceded from the English government and it was perhaps to affirm his loyalty to the Crown that he was knighted by King Edward III in 1365 which further cemented his degree of influence. David also died in battle in 1374.
King Edward III knights David, Lord Roche.
John, Lord Roche – 1374 – 1387
John, the second Lord of Fermoy, was made Sheriff of Cork in 1382 and died after a relatively short period in power in 1387.
Maurice, Lord Roche – 1387 – 1448
Maurice was a minor when he came into his title and estate and had a long period of over lordship in the area and also acted as County Sheriff from 1422.
David Mór (The Great), Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy – 1448 – 1488
David Mór was again quite warlike in his approach to the over lordship and engaged in many local battles, invasions, and raids and was one of the most significant of the Lords Roche in terms of renown and importance. His activity against rebels earned him further favour with the Crown and he was created a Viscount on an unknown date but some time before 1478. It is under David’s reign that the construction of the keep that remains standing to this day began. The keep acted not just as a last line of defence in the event of attack but, built some 75 feet above the river valley in a commanding position visible for miles around, it also served as a very striking reminder to all of the wealth and power of Lord Roche. It is likely that David is the Roche warrior buried in the tomb of Bridgetown Priory. See this link by Time Travel Ireland for some more detail on Bridgetown and images of the Priory and tomb of the fallen Roche knight.
The Roches generally and David Mór in particular were great patrons of the arts as would have been customary for such powerful figures. The manuscript The Book of Fermoy or The Book of Roche, now preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, was written under the patronage of the Roches during the 14th-16th Centuries and contains a fragment of Lebor Gabála, a collection of poems and material relating to the Roche family, poems of Gearóid Iarla, lives of saints, historical tracts, genealogies, mythological tales and fragments of medical treatises. One poem in particular is some 56 stanzas long extolling the virtues of Lord Roche. The Book is of significant importance as a late Medieval manuscript given that so few have survived and while it is not in pristine condition (seemingly for a period part of it had served as a pot cover) it is still legible in parts and some work has been done in analysing its contents but in general it shines a light on the folklore and traditions of Ireland (which were diligently recorded by scribes down through the ages) and for our purposes it is invaluable in tracing the history of the Castle and the geneaology of its former residents.
Maurice, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy – 1488 – Early 16th Century
The second Viscount of Fermoy continued the dominance of the Roche Family in the area and was a trusted servant of the Crown. He was summoned to Greenwich by Henry VII along with other Irish peers confirming his position of power and influence in the region by then known as “Roche Country”.
King Henry VII summons Maurice, Lord Roche to Greenwich.
David, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy – Early 16th Century – 1544
David carried on the Roche tradition of much raiding and invading but with continued fealty to the Crown. The political importance of the Roche family at the time was acknowledged by William Wyse in a letter to Lord Cromwell where Roche is acknowledged to be on the government side.
Maurice “The Mad”, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy – 1544 – 1561
Sadly and, tantalisingly given his name, we know very little about this Lord Roche. Invaluable historical documents were destroyed during the Irish Civil War on 30 June 1922 when a huge explosion of stored munitions destroyed the Public Records Office blowing to pieces one thousand years of Irish state and religious archives and with it a huge swathe of Irish cultural memory and historical documentation. Many of the Court records have also been lost and as the Roches were quite litigious in their dealings with their neighbours (especially the Condons) we have no doubt lost valuable primary sources of information.
David, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy – 1561 – 1583
David was quite pragmatic and set about establishing the exact extent and value of his estate when he came into his inheritance and invested further in the purchase of lands thereby extending his estate and consolidating his influence in the region. The Roches had always been recognised as loyal subjects but for the first time some doubt was raised as to the allegiance of David. In a letter written by the Lord Lieutenant at the time, Thomas Sussex, he mentions a rumour that the Earl of Desmond had sworn Lord Roche to him. There is a wider context to unrest by the Catholic overlords in Munster at this time. There were rebellions by the Earl of Desmond, head of the Fitz-Gerald Dynasty in Munster, and his followers the Geraldines and their allies which were known as the Desmond Rebellions and which took place during the years 1569-1573 and 1579-1583. The rebellions were motivated primarily by the desire to maintain the independence of feudal lords from their monarch, but also had an element of religious antagonism between Catholic Geraldines and the Protestant English state. Despite these persistent rumours David continued to support the Crown and this loyalty was rewarded when Sir Henry Sidney knighted David. He also received letters from Queen Elizabeth in 1565 requesting that he assist in maintaining order in the troublesome province and in 1572 he received a further letter thanking him for his continued support.
In 1576 the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Henry Sidney, visited Roche Castle and
“lodged two nights by the way netherwards at my lo: Roches, where I and all my trayne were verie largely and bountiefullie entertayned”.
(The Roches, Lords of Fermoy, Eithne Donnelly, p24)
David’s position with the authorities however was not helped by the fact that his son Maurice and brother -in-law James Fitz-Maurice were openly on the side of the rebels with the consequence that his son’s activities in particular led to doubts being raised as to the trustworthiness of David.
Matters took a turn for the worse in 1580 at the height of the rebellion when Walter Raleigh (later Sir Walter Raleigh) succeeded (with a degree of cunning and deceit) in taking control of the Castle when he
“advanced to the Castle, attended by six men only, and the Chieftain (Lord Roche) received him with apparent cordiality. Sir Walter contrived to keep him in conversation on various topics, while the men who accompanied him contrived to give entrance to all their companions fully armed, each musket containing two balls. Lord Roche, perceiving the Castle to be in the hands of the English, made a virtue of necessity, and addressing Sir Walter with kindness, ordered refreshments for his men, and invited him to dinner. He yielded when he could not resist and Sir Walter carried him to Cork that night, which proved dark and stormy…”
The Castles of County Cork, by James N. Healy, The Mercier Press, 1988, p.401
Was the suspicion surrounding Lord Roche justified? Four of his sons died defending the Crown in the Desmond Rebellion (Redmond, John, Ulick and Theobold). Ironically it was another son, Maurice, who had been in open rebellion and was pardoned in 1580, was the son who succeeded to the title on his father’s death in 1583. The upheaval of the Desmond Rebellion and the attempts by the Crown to control the Chieftains led to David losing much of his influence due to the confiscation of a significant proportion of territory. The stronghold of Roche Castle and the surrounding lands remained within the Roche family but the dominance the Roches enjoyed for nearly 4 centuries was beginning to wane. The Roches would no longer control Roche Country and David was the last of the Roches to be held in favour with the Crown.
Maurice, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy –1583 – 1600
Maurice had been in open rebellion with the Crown and following his pardon in 1580 and inheritance some 3 years later he then turns his mind towards restoring the influence of the Roches by attempting unsuccessfully to win back the confiscated lands by claiming he had seen the error of his ways and that he was now a faithful servant of the Crown. Despite his best efforts he was not trusted so his attempts failed and eventually he relapsed into his old rebellious ways and by 1597 found himself imprisoned in Dublin for a time for “crymes of high nature”.
David, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy – 1600 – 1635
Carrying on the tradition of his father this David opposed his own father and sided with the rebels in his youth but when he came into his inheritance and title he supported the Queen. He wrote to Queen Elizabeth I in 1600 protesting his loyalty and regretting his father’s rebellious ways while he bewails his poverty and inability to furnish men for the Queen’s service. He was successful to the extent that he remained in power and his lands were not further diminished during his over lordship.
Maurice, Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy – 1635- 1670
Maurice, the last Lord Roche, continued the Catholic tradition of the Roches and was openly a staunch adherent to the Catholic faith. In this however he had to pay the price on foot of the Penal Laws which were a series of laws imposed in an attempt to force Irish Catholics and Protestant dissenters to accept the reformed Christian faith as defined by the Anglican Church in England and practised by members of the Church of Ireland. Maurice was summoned to Dublin in 1636 by writ of Charles I to justify his contention that his lands should not be forfeited to the Crown. During this period Catholics were barred from holding public office or serving in the army and a concerted attempt was underway to disenfranchise those, such as Maurice, who refused to convert. Maurice was imprisoned for several years in England and as unrest grew in Ireland, partly due to Catholic resentment, he was released. On his return to Ireland in 1641 he joined the Catholic insurgents and was a member of the Supreme Council of the Catholic Confederates in Ireland. He was part of the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and as a result skirmishing took place around the Castle by Lord Inchiquin (later Earl of Inchiquin) during Easter 1642.
Maurice held on for a further seven years until order was restored by Cromwell’s Conquest during 1649 – 1653. Roche Castle was attacked by Cromwell’s forces under Lord Broghill during the conquest in January 1650 and as Lord Roche was away at the time of the attack Lady Ellen Roche bravely led the defence. The Castle came under heavy cannon fire from the “Camp Field” where Cromwell’s troops were positioned opposite the Castle which resulted in the near destruction of the house between the 12th and 15th century towers while some damage was done to the battlements
of the 15th century tower.
Sir Oliver Cromwell and his general Lord Broghill who laid
siege to the Castle in 1650.
After a siege and a heroic defence of the territory the Castle fell to Lord Broghill and the six officers commanding the troops under Lady Roche were summarily executed and it is suggested their remains were tossed into the river valley as Lord Broghill was known to be particularily ruthless and unnecessarily cruel with the vanquished. Lady Roche herself was hanged in 1652 on a trumped up charge of murder.
“She was brought before on of those High Courts of Justice (or injustice) set up immediately after the surrender of the Irish in 1652 where they hanged women for want of men. There she was tried, condemned and afterwards hanged, on the evidence of a strumpet, for shooting a man with a pistol whose name was unknown to the witness – although it was ready to be proved Lady Roche was twenty miles distant from the spot”.
(A Brief Narrative of the Sufferings of the Irish under Cromwell – London 1660).
Shortly after Lady Roche’s death in June 1652 Lord Roche laid down his arms and surrendered. He was dispossessed of his entire estate and died in poverty in 1670. The loss of his estate marks the end of the Roche reign in Roche Country. Thereafter the title “Viscount of Fermoy” was an empty one and the family dispersed from Munster, dwindled, and died. The title“Viscount of Fermoy” passed to David until 1681, thereafter to John (1681 – 1694), David, (1694 – 1703) and finally dies with Ulick, the 12th Viscount who died without a male heir. Incidentally in 1856 Edmond Burke Roche of Trabolgan was elevated to the peerage as Baron Fermoy and it is from this line that the late Diana, Princess of Wales, is descended from. Click here for more information on the Roche lineage.
Lieutenant Colonel John Widenham
The Roche Estate (although much diminished from the glory days of the 14th and 15th Centuries) was viewed as a significant prize so many supporters of the Crown lobbied for the estate to be granted to them. In 1666 Lieutenant Colonel John Widenham received the Castle as a reward for his loyalty although no evidence of his support has been unearthed so the grant, even then, was deemed dubious.
The Castle was thus renamed “Castle Widenham” and the reign of the Roches was consigned to history. As the estate had been much diminished in the aftermath of the Desmond Rebellion and reduced further after Cromwell’s Conquest the Widenhams did not exercise anything like the degree of power wielded by their predecessors. The Castle had been damaged during the siege so the main house was completely rebuilt during the late 17th century by Colonel Widenham on the site of Roches’ house using the same foundations and materials. The Keep on the western side of the Castle, although damaged, remained intact as did the 12th century tower and both remain standing to this day. The main house, also intact, was extended during the 18th and 19th Centuries.
Castle Widenham circa 1865 (Robert French).
The Widenham family enjoyed a peaceful time for some 300 years from 1666 until the 1960′s, the Castle then passing (through marriage) to the Creagh and Smith families. Lord and Lady Cotter purchased the estate in 1963 and sold it in 1976.
Blackwater Castle
The Castle, by now rebranded as “Blackwater Valley Castle”, passed through the hands of a number of different owners. In 1992 it was purchased by Dr. Rabbe Nordstrom (now deceased) and Mrs. Ninna Nordstrom who established The Nordstrom Family Trust which now owns the Castle (known as Blackwater Castle) the purpose of which is to preserve and enhance Irish Heritage and to promote art, culture, and scientific research and development. Blackwater Castle is now managed by Patrick Nordstrom, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Nordstrom and Patrick’s wife Sheila.
You can listen to Sheila discussing the history and heritage of the Castle with Billy Cotter on local radio by clicking on this link. The interview is 35 minutes long and starts at 1 hour 5 minutes on this broadcast file. https://www.mixcloud.com/CRKFM/crk-fm-broadcast-11-february-2017/
Irish Historic Houses 