The Wonderful Barn
Encyclopedia
The Wonderful Barn is a corkscrew-shaped barn
built on the edge of Castletown House
Estate of the Conolly family, which borders Leixlip
and Celbridge
, Ireland
. It was built in 1743 on the Leixlip side of the Castletown Estate. Flanked by two smaller dovecote
towers, it was built with the stairs ascending around the exterior of the building.
Several purposes are suggested for the unique structure. One theory is based in the custom in Georgian times of using doves as a delicacy when other game or animals were not in season, and suggest its use as a dovecote
. The height of the structure would also lend itself to sport shooting, supporting another theory of its use as a shooting or game keepers tower.
The tower is seen from the east windows of Castletown House, so it filled that vista, possibly as a folly
.
However, a central hole through each of the floors supports the generally accepted theory of its use as a granary
. The barn was built in the years immediately following the famine of 1740-41
, as there was a need for new grain stores in case of another famine. The Conollys owned Kilmacredock and rented it out, so the barn was also useful for their tenants.
The construction project also likely served as a way to keep the local poor employed. In this it is not unlike the Conolly Folly
(an Obelisk) which was built on the estate in 1740-41.
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
built on the edge of Castletown House
Castletown House
Castletown House, Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland's is a Palladian country house built in 1722 for William Conolly, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. It formed the centrepiece of a estate...
Estate of the Conolly family, which borders Leixlip
Leixlip
-Politics:Since 1988 Leixlip has had a nine member Town Council , headed by a Cathaoirleach , which has control over many local matters, although it is limited in that it is not also a planning authority...
and Celbridge
Celbridge
Celbridge is a town and townland on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. It is west of Dublin. As a town within the Dublin Metropolitan Area and the Greater Dublin Area, it is located at the intersection of the R403 and R405 regional roads....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was built in 1743 on the Leixlip side of the Castletown Estate. Flanked by two smaller dovecote
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
towers, it was built with the stairs ascending around the exterior of the building.
Several purposes are suggested for the unique structure. One theory is based in the custom in Georgian times of using doves as a delicacy when other game or animals were not in season, and suggest its use as a dovecote
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
. The height of the structure would also lend itself to sport shooting, supporting another theory of its use as a shooting or game keepers tower.
The tower is seen from the east windows of Castletown House, so it filled that vista, possibly as a folly
Folly
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs...
.
However, a central hole through each of the floors supports the generally accepted theory of its use as a granary
Granary
A granary is a storehouse for threshed grain or animal feed. In ancient or primitive granaries, pottery is the most common use of storage in these buildings. Granaries are often built above the ground to keep the stored food away from mice and other animals.-Early origins:From ancient times grain...
. The barn was built in the years immediately following the famine of 1740-41
Great Irish Famine (1740-1741)
The Irish Famine of 1740–1741 in the Kingdom of Ireland was perhaps of similar magnitude to the better-known Great Famine of 1845–1852. Unlike the famine of the 1840s, which was caused in part by a fungal infection in the potato crop and, separately, extreme government regulations, that of 1740–41...
, as there was a need for new grain stores in case of another famine. The Conollys owned Kilmacredock and rented it out, so the barn was also useful for their tenants.
The construction project also likely served as a way to keep the local poor employed. In this it is not unlike the Conolly Folly
Conolly's Folly
Conolly's Folly , a.k.a. The Obelisk or originally The Conolly Folly, is an obelisk structure located near Celbridge and Maynooth, both in north County Kildare, Ireland.-History:...
(an Obelisk) which was built on the estate in 1740-41.