Linear earthwork

The National Monuments Service's description

The monument is included on the Register of Historic Monuments. The area which would later be called 'The English Pale', from the Latin 'palus', a stake, and also possibly from the name of an earthen fortification at Calais in France (Lydon 1972, 261), originated in the 14th century when Norman settlers began fortifying their lands in counties Dublin, Kildare, Louth and Meath against attack by the native Irish. By 1435, ongoing attacks, probably primarily aimed at cattle theft (O'Riordáin 1971, 15), prompted the concept of an additional, linear defensive feature, the boundaries of which were defined in a 1488 Act of Parliament as extending, 'from Merrion inclusive to the waters of the Dodder, by the new ditch to Saggard, Rathcoole, Kilheel (Kilteel), Rathmore and Ballymore (Eustace), thence to the county of Kildare into Ballycutlan (Coghlanstown), Harristown and Naas, and so thence to Clane, Kilboyne, and Kilcock' (Mc Neill 1950, 250). In 1494, Parliament directed that, 'every inhabitant, earth tiller and occupier in said marches (borderlands), do build and make a double ditch six feet high above ground at one side or part which meareth next unto Irishmen between this and next Lammas (August 1st.), the said ditches to be kept up and repaired as long as they shall occupy said land.' However, Ellis (Ellis S. G. 'The emergence of the English Pale in Ireland' in Irish Historical Studies) points to a statute in Poyning's parliament in 1495 for 'ditches to be made aboute the Inglishe pale' as the first application of the term to Ireland. The Pale contracted eastwards in subsequent years and it is not certain if its original extent was ever completely ditched. By the seventeenth century, The Pale had ceased to have any real political or defensive significance.
Only a few short sections have been positively identified in Co Kildare; in Kilteel Upper/Cupidstown near Rathmore (KD020-008-----), in Bishopsland just SW of Ballymore Eustace (KD029-039----), at Castlebrown or Clongowes (KD010-021----/KD014-008----) and finally, the best preserved, semi-continuous portion which runs for c. 3365m through the townlands of Ballybrack, Ballyloughan, Clonduff, Clonfert South and Graiguepottle, c. 5km N of Clongowes (KD010-001----).
Two well-preserved, although overgrown portions survive, one to the north and a second to the south of Clongoweswood College (KD014-045----). The northern portion (KD010-21----/KD014-8001-) is a low, broad earthen bank (traceable L 550m; Wth 3-4m; H 0.75m) with a footpath on top and with ditches on either side (D 1-1.5m, but recut). The southern portion (KD014-008002-) has a broadly similar morphology and dimensions. In 1993, an archaeological watching brief (Licence No. 93E0057: www.excavations.ie) was maintained on the construction of a sewage pipeline which was run through an existing, modern breach in the boundary and a profile was also recorded 4m to the N of the breach at an area of least vegetal overgrowth. Natural ground level at this point rises from W to E. The Pale boundary here had a total width of 8.5m. The larger and deeper W fosse (recut as a modern drain) was 2m wide and tapered to a V-shaped profile. It was 1.18m deep, below ground level to the W. The flat-topped earthen bank was almost 2m wide and rose 2.2m above the bottom of the W fosse and 1.5m above ground level to the W. The E fosse was c. 2.5m wide with a rounded profile. It was 1.5m deep below the top of the bank and less than 1m below ground level to the E. No small finds were recovered.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011