Road - class 3 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

In an exposed S-facing bank of cut-away bog. There is a mixed tree plantation immediately to the N. The togher is visible at a depth of 1.9m below the surface of the bog and is 0.5m above the level of the water in the drain to its E. The depth of the water at this side is 1.9m.

The togher appears to be a plank walkway aligned NNE-SSW and it consists of a superstructure made up of a central split plank flanked on either side by longitudinal roundwoods. These overlie a substructure consisting of a transverse support and brushwood.

The underside of the central plank (max. exposed L 4.05m; max. exposed Wth 0.8m; T 0.01m) appears to be flat. A single roundwood (L 2.65m; av. Wth 0.07-0.1m; T 0.15m) lies 0.02-0.03m to its E. Two in-line roundwoods are visible 0.05-0.08m to its W. The S roundwood (L 1.95m) is in three pieces – and was probably fractured when the bog was being cut away. The N roundwood (exposed L 0.03m; Wth 0.06-0.08m; T 0.1m) is thicker and is rounded towards a point at its N end. The projecting transverse support (exposed L 0.54m; exposed Wth 0.38m; T 0.18m) at the SE end is aligned E-W. In the angle between it and the central plank brushwood composed of twigs (av. diam. 0.01-0.05m) is visible. Silver bark was evident on of the pieces. The brushwood is also visible in the E section along the drain. What appeared to be a peg turned out to be a lath (L 0.3m; Wth 0.07m; T 0.1m).

The togher runs into the bank face at NNE and appears to continue on into the bog. It does not appear to have extended beyond the E roundwood. However, it is unclear if it continues to the W of the W roundwoods as this area is covered by uncut peat (D 0.2m).

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 11 February 2014