What were the walls of the new mansion panelled with?
2 Describe the kitchen at Lemeanah.
3 What was the ceiling of the Great Hall made from?
How was the room lit up?
What was the fireplace made from?
Fact File
Towards the middle of the 17th century the landowners began to look for more comfort in their houses and many of them built 'extensions' on to their existing tower houses so that they had a magnificent and at the same time, comfortable place to live in. Lemeanah Castle was one of these. The extension was built to the same height as the old tower. It had the kitchen and other rooms on the ground floor, the Great Hall on the first floor and the main bedrooms on the second floor. The children's and servants' bedrooms were on the top, or attic floor.
Draw...!
A picture of a piece of 17th century furniture. You could copy one from the book or from a book of antique furniture.
Explore...!
Try to organise a class or family visit to a seventeenth century castle/mansion house. Donegal Castle is a magnificent example for anyone living in the north-west of Ireland, but there may be other examples.
Imagine......!
Imagine going to a Halloween party in a seventeenth century house. What would you wear? Write down an exciting adventure that you might have.
Imagine that you are living in an old tower house/castle. You are trying to persuade your wife or husband to build a new house. What reasons could you give? Make a list saying what you would like to have in the new building.
