Mound

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on the summit of the ENE-WSW Fourknocks ridge. This is a circular grass-covered earthen mound (diam. of top 8m N-S; diam. of base 37m N-S; H 5.4-5.6m) surrounded by a berm (Wth 14-20m) defined by a stone-faced scarp (H 1.1-1.2m) or a ditch (at S: Wth of top 2.5m; ext. D 0.4m). The mound probably encloses a passage tomb, but the berm and ditch are a haha that was constructed in the eighteenth century to keep cattle away from the gazebo on top of the mound.

The gazebo was built by the Caddells of Herbertstown House, pronounced locally as ‘Harbourstown’, when the House was built c. 1740-1780 at the N foot of the hill. The Caddells had been living at the White Castle (ME034-010----) in the Naul until they lost much of their property during the Cromwellian period. However, they managed to retain or regain some of it including Herbertstown, even though they remained Roman Catholics. The gazebo, known locally as Caddell’s Folly, is said to have been built by a Richard Caddell so that he could see the races at Bellewstown c. 5km to the N after he fell out with the race organisers.

The gazebo is a hexagonal structure (ext. diam. 6.7m) that was built of dressed limestone walls (T c. 0.7m; H 7.3m) with brick around the internal embrasures. There is a lintelled doorway with a fanlight overhead at ENE but each of the other facets has a large round-headed window opening (H 3m) that permitted wide views over the countryside. The roof is now gone but there is a balustrade above that according to photographs in the Irish Architectural Archive once had urns mounted on it at the angles. The gazebo was brought to attention by Ian Lennon. (Reilly 1999)

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 upload: 10 July 2007
Amended: 25 May 2023

Reilly, N. 1999 Herbertstown House. Drogheda Independent, 29/10/1999