The Mint is located on Carlingford’s medieval main street.
It is a fortified town house or tower house dating to the 15th – 16th century, but its exact purpose is unclear.
The name “The Mint” is presumed to derive from a license granted to Carlingford by Edward VI of England in 1467 to mint coinage.[1]
The limestone building is believed to have housed one of Carlingford’s wealthy merchant families, the Marmions.[2]
However, some structural quirks of the building cast some doubt on whether it was a residence or a commercial building designed to house valuables. Thus the mystery of The Mint.
The building lacks a fireplace, suggesting it may not have been a residence. It is also highly fortified, with extra thick walls,
One historical fact that could indicate the structure was just an extra fortified residence is the fact that no coins minted in Carlingford have been found.
It’s defensive features include a a battlemented chemin de ronde on the roof, with loopholes for muskets. The street side doorway is protected by and elaborate machicolation, a structure for dropping stones or material such as boiling water, boiling oil, hot sand or quicklime[3] on attackers
The Mint also features a set of five highly decorated windows, three of which are at street level, on the side facing the street.
The ogee windows have carvings of a horse, a bust of a man, a bird, a snake and Celtic interlace designs. Some sources state this reflects a revival of interest in Celtic art during the 15th–16th centuries. Each of the windows have hood mouldings and mullions.
There are also five small windows on the rear each dressed either with an arch of stones or headers and sills. There is a large first floor opening on the rear of the building and what may have been a ground floor rear entrance that has been sealed up.
The Mint is the smallest of three fortified buildings in historic Carlingford.
Carlingford is also home to the majestic ruin, King John’s castle and the Taaffe’s Castle, another example of a fortified medieval Irish tower/town house.
[1]Ruding, Rogers (1 January 1840). Annals of the coinage of Great Britain and its dependencies: from the earliest period of authentic history to the reign of Victoria. Hearne. p. 241
[3]Medieval castle SIEGES in depth