Ashtown Castle: Phoenix Park, Dublin
In the late 12th century the lands of Ashtown were granted to the Hospital of St. John the Baptist, Dublin by Hugh Tyrrell, first Baron of Castleknock. The hospital belonging to the order known as the “Crutched” Friars (Brothers of the Cross), was one of the earliest city charities. Walter Foster was leasing the lands for ?4 a year when the monastery was dissolved in 1540. The early 17th century saw plans to develop a deer park on lands…
