Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - motte and bailey
Newtown Or Skirk, County Laois, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Newtown Or Skirk
- County
- Laois
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- NULL
- Latest-edition OS map
- Moat of Skirke
- Coordinates
- 52.91352, -7.65988
- SMR number
- LA021-021002-
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
Atop high ground with good views of undulating countryside, church (LA021- 010001-) and graveyard (LA021-010002-) immediately to the N. A flat-topped mound (diam. c. 13m, H 3m-3.5m) surrounded by a wide shallow fosse with a substantial bailey (int. dims. c. 50m N-S, c. 75m E-W) which is defined by a bank (Wth 8-9m, int. H c. 1m, ext. H 2.5m-3m) and external fosse (Wth c. 7m) except at N. Entrance at E. The site appears to have been a henge monument that was converted into a motte and bailey. Standing stone (LA021-021004-) within centre of henge (LA021-021001-) that was reused as a bailey for the adjoining motte. Reference to a mound here (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 316). This is a reference to the motte at Skirke.
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
- Souterrainunder 1 mi
- Urn burialunder 1 mi
- Hengeunder 1 mi
- Standing stoneunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.