The Round Castle was built in 1213 by command of King John of England. It was originally a wooden Motte and Bailey fortification but was rebuilt in stone in 1281 along with the rest of the castle as we see it today. Though the outside of the tower appears round, the interior is octagonal. It is roughly about 35 feet high with three floors and the walls are roughly 6 feet 11 inches in thickness. This tower stood at the edge of Lake Cré, which has since been drained, and can be seen on the Mall.
The Mall 1790
The Square Castle, along with the curtain walls and two sentry towers, was built in 1281 out of hard sandstone. The gate tower is over 90 feet tall and it walls are roughly 8 feet are their thickest. The entrance is clearly seen from Castle Street as a pointed arch, through which you pass into the centre courtyard. Originally the draw-bridge of the castle would have stretched across the breath of the modern street. The Castle remained in the Butler family until1703 when it was sold to the King’s Hospital in Kilmainham but was soon sold again to John Damer in 1722.
It is unknown when exactly Damer House was built or by whom. Some records say that Lady Paisley of Golden grove built the house in the early 18th century but this is at the same time that the Damers owned the property. The house is built in the Queen Anne style and its architecture is pre-Palladian which is becoming increasingly rare in Ireland. The architect is unknown but the house contains a magnificent central staircase, a carved stone doorway and some of the original mantels. In 1798 it was used as a military barracks with the wing being added in 1858. The house has been many things in the past century including a school and a sanatorium. The house is now part of the Roscrea Castle complex and houses many interesting exhibits.