Designed landscape - folly

The National Monuments Service's description

In flat pastureland. This rectangular enclosure (c. 27m NE-SW; c. 21m NW-SE) is defined by two slight earthen banks with an intervening fosse. Trees are growing along the S and W sides of the inner bank (Wth 2.-2.5m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 1-1.2m). Its outer face is vertical and faced with a revetment of drystone walling (H 0.8m). The revetment is well built and almost completely intact. A post and wire fence crosses the W tip of the outer bank (Wth 2.5-3.5m; H 0.3m). There are causewayed gaps across the fosse midway along its NE (Wth 3m) and SW (Wth 3-3.5m) sides, the later appears to be a later addition (SMR file). Based on the cartographic evidence, Cody (1989, 352-3) believes that the enclosure was built sometime between 1839 and 1892 as it is shown on the OS 25-inch plan of 1892 and 1927-8 but not on the original OS 6-inch map or its Fair Plan. The remains of a tower house (GA084-050001-) and a section of its associated bawn wall (GA084-050003-) stand isolated in the W half of the interior. The enclosure is possibly a folly and may have been meant to represent a moated site.

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 7 September 2021

References

SMR file - Sites and monuments record files in the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Cody, E. 1989 An archaeological survey of the barony of Athenry, Co. Galway. Unpublished MA thesis, University College Galway.