Ringfort - rath

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on the gentle E-facing slope of a low rise, with good views.
Slightly raised circular area (31m E–W; 32m N–S) defined on the E half by a substantial earthen bank (Wth 5.7m; int. H 1m; ext. H 1.1m), which is reduced on the W half to a scarp (ext. H 0.7m) with a slightly raised internal rim. Small stones protrude from the inner face of the bank at NE–E. The hachuring depicted on the 1930 OS 6-inch map indicates an external fosse. The fosse is not now evident, but when the rath was inspected in 1996 a band of soft earth (Wth 2m at E; 8m at W) was noted encircling the rath, suggesting that the fosse had been recently infilled. In the interior, slightly W of centre, an irregular N–S stony scarp marks a difference in height of c. 1m between the W and E parts of the interior. The lower E half has a level surface, strewn with stones. An E–W row of stones, barely protruding from the surface, extends from the bank at W to the central N–S dividing scarp, marking out an internal division in W half of the interior. A gap (Wth 2m), now blocked with boulders, in the bank at E may mark the location of the entrance. Another gap (Wth 1.4m) at NW is similarly blocked.
The perimeter is ringed with ash and hawthorn, with holly, ash and brambles in the interior. Heaps of field clearance boulders are piled along the line of the bank at S. A possible rath (MA039-011----) is located 120m to N, and there is a rath (MA039-013----) 230m to E.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 13 September 2019