Castle - motte and bailey

The National Monuments Service's description

According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 292-303), Kill (KD019-008001-) formed part of 'the cantred of Offelan nearest to Dublin' which was granted by Strongbow to Adam de Hereford in the sub-infeudation of Leinster in the early 13th century, around which time, or possibly slightly earlier, the motte was erected, possibly by John de Hereford. No early historical references to the motte are known. In an extent of 1540 the motte is described as, 'a small mountain surrounded by a dry ditch, on which the capital messuage (manor house) was situated, and where the Court Baron (manorial court) is still held, when the turn for it comes'. Situated just SE of Kill village, it is a tree-clad, high, round, steep-sided, flat-topped mound (H. c. 12m; base diams. 57m N-S; 45m E-W; summit diam. c. 20m), girdled by a broad fosse (Wth c. 8m) with an external bank, except between W and N where a slightly raised, sub-rectangular bailey (dims L 57m NE-SW; Wth 30m NW-SE) extends NW. The bailey is enclosed by a bank NW-N-NE (Wth 2m; av. H 1.5m), with traces of an outer fosse. The small, N-flowing Kill River flows through the fosse SW-W-NW. The upper surface of the motte contains a deep depression. (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 328)

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 3/2007).

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1986 Urban Archaeological Survey - County Kildare (4 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Killanin, M.M. and Duignan, M.V. 1967 (2nd ed.) The Shell guide to Ireland. London. The Ebury Press.