Exciting news broke in August this year about 800-year-old Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford where a hidden room, previously unknown to historians and caretakers, was stumbled upon by a joiner conducting conservation work.

 The revelation of the secret room occurred during repairs to windows inside the castle. Contractors knocked through a section of the wall, revealing a concealed space that had remained untouched for decades. Johnstown Castle, which dates back to Norman times, was owned by various aristocratic families before entering public ownership in the late 20th century.

The castle, under the care of the Irish Heritage Trust since 2018, has been undergoing extensive restoration efforts over the past five years, following the castle's inaugural public opening in 2019 after centuries of private ownership.

Renovations in the castle's east wing were completed and officially opened to the public. This section spans three floors and has historically hosted numerous parties and events, housing a ballroom, oratory, billiard room, and science laboratory.

This year’s discovery of the hidden room adds a layer of intrigue to the castle's rich history. I understand that it is one of the towers. Was it a bedroom? If so, who lived in it and why was it blocked up? A number of answers spring to mind. Rooms were sometimes closed off after a tragedy in the past, but it’s also possible this was just a practical move to get rid of extra space that was no longer needed and cost too much to keep up.

This is the second mysterious chamber to be uncovered in the castle. The find comes on the heels of a previous discovery of a secret room under the tower beside the lake in the preceding year, only accessible by water. It sounds to me like it was an escape route when under attack by enemies in a much earlier century.

 I’ve visited a lot of historic properties around Ireland but I’ve never been to Johnstown Castle. Now it’s definitely going on my list when it reopens to the public.

Suzanne Winterly is the author of mystery and dual timeline historical mystery novels set in the late 19th century and in the present. More details below:

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