Moated site

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on level, sheltered pasture in the west of the Island. Comprises a rectangular area aligned NW- SE (L 40m, Wth 28m) which is defined by an inner and outer bank with interveening fosse. There is a narrow causeway through the banks and fosse midway along the E side (Wth 3.50m). The outer flat-topped bank is best preserved along the N side (H 1.20m, Wth at base 4.40m, Top 2.40m) but is denuded in the SE. It has been badly damaged in the S. The inner fosse is wide and flat-bottomed, broadest in the S (Wth 5.20m, D.0.28) and deepest in the W (D 0.85m). The inner bank has raised corners with the exception of that in the NE where it has been partially removed. It is best preserved in the W (Wth at base 10.20m, Top 4m, H 0.80m). The interior has been cultivated. In the twelfth century Lambay was granted to the Archbishop of Dublin shortly after the Anglo-Norman invasion. The rectilinear earthwork with a broad ditch lying to the S of the present castle was probably built sometime after this (Scantlebury 1945, 88).
Geophysical survey (Licence no. 03R0074) in the area showed that the moated site respects a double circular enclosure associated with the church (DU009-001007-). The inner area of the moated site is lower than exterior. The fosse is under long grass.

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Date of upload: 31 December 2014

References

Scantlebury, Rev. C.S. 1945 Lambay. Dublin Historical Record 7, 82-91.