Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Henge
Newtown Or Skirk, County Laois, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Newtown Or Skirk
- County
- Laois
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Moat of Skirke
- Coordinates
- 52.91334, -7.65984
- SMR number
- LA021-021001-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
An almost circular enclosure (dims. c. 96m E-W, c. 90m N-S,) defined by bank (Wth 8-9m, int. H c. 1m, ext. H 2.5m-3m) and external fosse (Wth c. 7m) except at N. This site appears to have been a henge-type monument before it was adapted as a motte and bailey (LA021-021002-). The banks were originally formed by scooping out the clay from inside the line of the bank leaving the central area, higher than the extremities of the enclosure. This is a typical feature of the henge-type sites in Ireland (Cunningham 1987, 163-4). Standing Stone (LA021-021004-) in centre of henge monument.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 17 December 2007
Nearby in the register
- Standing stoneunder 1 mi
- Castle - motte and baileyunder 1 mi
- Souterrainunder 1 mi
- Urn burialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.