Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Moated site
Balnagon Lower, County Meath, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Balnagon Lower
- County
- Meath
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Bens Fort
- Latest-edition OS map
- Bens Fort
- Coordinates
- 53.72220, -6.97639
- SMR number
- ME016-021----
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 1636 "Vltoniae Orientalis Pars" (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 a fairly level, low-lying landscape. It is depicted as a rectangular earthwork described as ‘Ben’s Fort’ in gothic lettering on the 1836 and 1908 editions of the OS 6-inch map. This is a raised rectangular and grass-covered area (dims 37m NE-SW; 25m NW-SE) defined by a fosse or moat (Wth of top 8-11; int. D 1.2m; ext. D 0.2m), and slight outer banks at the S end of the NE and SW (Wth c. 6m; ext. H 0.2m) sides. The W angle forms a raised platform (dims 21m NE-SW; 12 NW-SE; H 0.4m) which may be natural. The moat is eroded away at the N angle where there is a grass-covered mound (diam. of base 15m; diam. of top 3m; HJ 1.7m) that may be spoil. There are gaps at either end of the NE side and at the centre of the SE side but an original entrance is not identified.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of revision: 25 February 2019
Amended: 3 February 2012
Nearby in the register
- Standing stoneunder 1 mi
- Standing stoneunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Wellunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.