Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ringfort - rath
Oldtown (deece Upper By., Gallow Par.), County Meath, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Oldtown (deece Upper By., Gallow Par.)
- County
- Meath
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Fort
- Latest-edition OS map
- Hachured
- Coordinates
- 53.42378, -6.72407
- SMR number
- ME049-013----
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
Situated on a low rise in a fairly low-lying landscape where a N-S canalised section of the Rye Water River just 50m to the W is diverted from its original course and now runs WNW-ESE on the N side of the Royal Canal just S of the monument. This is a circular grass-covered area (26.6m NE-SW; 25.5m NW-SE) that slopes down slightly to the S defined by a slight scarp (Wth 1-1.5m; H 0.8m) NE-S-SW that morphs into the lip of a slight bank at NW (Wth of base 9m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 2.6m) separated by a flat-bottomed fosse (Wth of top 12-13m; Wth of base 2-3m; ext. H 1.0-2m) from a middle earthen bank (Wth of base 7-8m; ext. H 1.4-1.5m) that only survives S-W-NNE. This is separated by a flat-bottomed fosse (Wth of top 7-8m; Wth of base 1-2m; ext. D 1-1.1m) from an outer earthen bank (Wth of base 4.5m-6; ext. H 1m) that only survives W-N. A small gap (Wth of base 1.3m) in the scarp at ESE could be an original entrance. The outer banks support some bushes.
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: 27 August 2019
Nearby in the register
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.