Trim Castle

Artist(s) : Luttrell Wynne (Draughtsman)

View of ivy-clad Trim castle on sloping ground, with bawn wall and turreted gateway to the left. In the foreground further enclosing wall and ruined tower. Trees.

Inscribed in Image

Caption within boundaries of image – Trim Castle
Text within boundaries of image – Engraved by P. Sandby

Image Details

Genre	Landscape
Technique	Wash drawings
Subject(s)	Architecture, Forts and fortifications
Geographical Location	Meath - County Leinster - Province Trim Castle - Castle
Keywords(s)	Castles, Gates, Ruins, Towers, Trees
Colour	Coloured
Dimensions	31.5 cm x 21.5 cm
Published / created	1774

Bibliographical Details

Travel Account	Journal and sketchbook, Ireland (1774)
Contributor(s)	Luttrell Wynne — Role: Draughtsman Luttrell Wynne — Role: Author of travel text
Print or manuscript	Manuscript
Location of image in copy	PD/435 [image 31]
Source copy	Formerly in Cornwall Record Office. PD/470-473, PD/435
Permalink	https://ttce.universityofgalway.ie/irelandillustrated/?id=ii_image_1525109249&object_type=image&ttce_function=5
Rights	Rights Now in private collection. No reproduction authorized.

Related text from travel account

Trim tho’ a county Town is not large, or well built, its Town house is the only good building of modern construction. It is more remarkable for the ruins of a large old castle upon the banks of the Boyne immediately adjoining to it: which is said to have been buit by a follower of Henry 2^nd & to have been the residence of K. John who held a parliament here and had a mint within the walls of this castle.
This castle is different from the rest in this country both in respect to size & structure – it bears some resemblance to that at Rochester, in England. – A high Tower on the opposite side of the river which once made part of an old abbey is likewise remarkable – This is not the only remains of this kind in the town, and near it on different sides of the river are two more. That at Newtown bridge 1 mile off was once very considerable, if one may judge from the numbers of small dependant chapples about it. A little beyond it is another ruin said to have been a college formerly. These ruins with the distant view of Trim castle form a very pleasing scene.
There is a new Jail now erecting at Trim upon the banks of the river close to the old Bridge which seems to be upon a new & admirable construction.
It is a high stone tower consisting of 4 stories, in each are 5 cells excepting in the lowest and in the third story above where part of the rooms is converted into halls with fireplaces for the prisoners in Winter. A long passage runs through each story with a large strong open grate at the farther end, which serves both to give air and light to it. Each of the cells opens into this & is secured by a strong iron grate, with a wooden door in the inside. To each of the cells is a small grated window glazed within; & each has a supply of water, which is conveyed down by a pipe under which is a sink & pipe to carry it off. There are cells for 17 which occasionally may hold double the number At the farther end of each story is a convenience for the use of the prisoners. A stone staircase is continued to the Top of the Tower where is open place battlemented round where the prisoners may air themselves.
At 3 miles distance from Trim is a handsome seat of L^d Mornington’s at Dangin The situation is not very extraordinary. The offices are entirely new 7 upon a handsome plan the body of the house is an old castle; which is to be pulled down and to be replaced by a modern brick buildingn the stile of what is already finished. There are some good rooms in the old house & a few good pictures. Among the pictures is one by Janis a painter of this country who excelled greatly in caricature likenesses - it seems an odd taste to wish to have one’s friends appear in such disgusting & ridiculous forms. But the chappel which forms part of one of the wings and is a light piece of gothick in the inside and the library in the opposite wing are the best rooms in the house. In the chapple is a very good organ upon which his Lordship plays and has choir service performed here on Sundays. The library is said to be furnished with a valuable collection of books. The grounds which are lately enriched with considerable plantations are laid out in the modern taste and ornamented with a fine piece of water. [Unpaginated]