Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Townplots West, County Mayo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Townplots West
- County
- Mayo
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Elgans Fort
- Latest-edition OS map
- Elgans Fort
- Coordinates
- 54.21695, -9.23879
- SMR number
- MA015-044004-
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
Located in an area of rolling average pasture dotted with drumlin-like knolls and hummocks, with good views generally, especially SE–SW. The rath encompasses a natural rise. Field boundaries shown to N, S and W on the 1922 0S 6-inch map were removed during land reclamation to create one large open field.
This rath is named ‘Elgans Fort’ on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps. It consists of a broadly oval area (c. 25m E–W; c. 20-22m N–S) defined by an earthen scarp (Wth slope 2m; ext. H 1.2m at W). The enclosure is in poor condition; the interior is engulfed in large heaps of field clearance debris and gorse bushes, making examination difficult. A slight depression (Wth c. 2.5m) outside the scarp at W may indicate an infilled fosse; it is marked on its outer edge by cropmark of dry grass. A similar crop mark follows the line of a removed field boundary at SE of the rath. A cluster of monuments, including a rath, enclosures and a wedge tomb (MA015-044001- to MA015-044006-) is located 100-120m to NW-N.
Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 6 December 2018
Nearby in the register
- Barrow - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Barrow - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.