Castle - motte and bailey

The National Monuments Service's description

In a narrow strip of woodland flanking the S-bank of the River Liffey, and apparently truncating the E-end of a low, tree-clad ridge. A large, steep-sided, flat-topped, circular earthen mound (dims. H c. 4m at E - c. 7m at W; base diam. 30m; summit diam. 15m) has traces of a shallow fosse girdling the base N-E-S. There is a shallow depression at the centre of the summit . The 1st ed. (1838) of the OS 6-inch map shows a long, narrow, rectangular area (est. dims L c. 50m NE-SW; Wth c. 20m) defined by a scarp, extending to the NE of the monument, a possible bailey.
In 2002, an archaeological assessment (Licence No. 02E1513: www.excavations.ie) was carried out before construction of the south golf course of the K Club. A 30m buffer zone from the base of the motte was to be left undisturbed. Archaeological monitoring of ground works followed (Licence No. 02E1781: www.excavations.ie) covering an area of 26.2ha., in which a limekiln (KD014-017001-) of apparent medieval date was discovered, and a substantial medieval ditch (dims Wth c. 5.5m; D c. 2.2m; traced L 50m north-west/south-east) located c. 60m south-west of the motte. The disturbed remains of a later structure, possibly of late or post-medieval date, were exposed overlying the tertiary fills of the ditch. In addition, a range of post-medieval structural debris was exposed in the vicinity. These appeared to relate to a largely demolished farm depicted on the first-edition OS 6-inch maps. The limekiln and medieval ditch appear to relate to settlement associated with the motte. Monitoring also revealed twelve abraded fragments of medieval pottery and eight fragments of human skull (from one adult individual). Subsequent excavation (Licence No. 02E1782: www.excavations.ie) revealed structural remains of medieval date, compacted into a low irregular mound, consisting of medieval crested ridge tiles, perforated roofing slate and pockets of decayed mortar, c. 35-40m from the edge of the motte. The heavily disturbed remains of two clay-bonded stone walls or wall footings were exposed, in addition to other deposits of stone, suggesting a structure with minimum dimensions of 12m by 3m; the scattered remains of metalled surfaces and build debris of post-medieval date, apparently associated with the demolished farm complex depicted on the first-edition OS 6-inch maps, of which one solitary brick building remains intact. The foundation trench of one building was also exposed. A section of the substantial ditch was investigated but the only significant finds recovered were a perforated roofing slate and a fragment of human skull; the roofing slate suggesting the ditch was backfilled some time after the abandonment of the adjacent medieval structure. Its dimensions suggest a significant boundary or enclosing feature, also associated with occupation of the motte. Finds recovered from the area include 280 sherds of medieval pottery, 175 fragments of roof tile, 345 roofing slates and 263 fragments of post-medieval pottery.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011