Cistern

The National Monuments Service's description

Located within the town of Ratoath, between the motte and bailey and the church. Archaeological monitoring (01E1173) by F. O’Carroll of the line of a sewer under the footpath (D c. 0.6m-1.6m) adjacent to the extended graveyard (ME044-034017-) and on the line of a new road constructed in 1795 identified a number of features including the remains of a cistern (excavations.ie 2001: 1042). This consists of two clay-bonded walls (Wth 0.5m; H c. 0.5m) meeting at a right angle but only the inner sides of the walls are faced indicating that it was inserted in the ground. The floor was covered with a thick layer of lime-mortar (T 0.09m) over a layer of hard sandy grit (T c. 0.07m) which was over a base of large stones. This structure, the full dimensions of which were not recovered, appears to have been designed to retain water. It collapsed inwards at an unknown time as no artefacts were recovered from it but this occurred before the road was built in 1795. (O’Carroll 2002, 13, 14)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 9 December 2021

O’Carroll, F. 2002 Archaeological monitoring at Kentstown Road, Ratoath, Co. Meath. Licence No. 01E1173. Unpublished report, CRDS