Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a fairly level landscape. The OS Letters of the 1830s mention the ruin of a castle within the fort, but which could not be seen even then (Herity 2001, 114). A large structure consisting of what looks like two tower houses connected by a lower block, and another smaller structure nearby are depicted about this point on the Down Survey (1656-8) barony map of Ratoath and the parish map of Ballymaglassan. It was owned by Valerien Wellesley of Dangan (ME042-009----), and it is described in the Civil Survey (1654) as ‘a ruinate old castle & three cottages’ (Simington 1940, 89). The notation ‘Site of Castle’ is attached to the location of the enclosure on all the editions of the OS 6-inch maps.

The enclosure was described in 1970 (SMR file) as a circular area (int. diam. 51m NNE-SSW) defined by a wide, shallow fosse (Wth of top 12m at NNE; int. D 0.9m; ext. D 0.4m) and a large outer bank of earth and stone (at SSW: Wth of base 8m; int. H 2.2m; ext. H 1.6m) that survived S-NNW and was traceable as a berm (at NNE: Wth 7m) elsewhere. There was another external fosse (at SSW: Wth of top 9m; Wth of base 3m; ext. D 0.4m) and traces of a second external bank (at SSW: Wth of base 5m; ext. H 0.1m) ESE-S-W. A wide causeway (Wth 7m) crossed the inner fosse at NNE. An oblique aerial photograph (CUCAP: BDK008) from 1970 shows a rectangular enclosure attached at S as well as some field banks and drains extending off to the N, forming part of the field system (ME050-007----). The visible profile of the monument had been removed by 1995 (OSAP).

Archaeological testing (17E0358) by E. Halpin across the line of its perimeter at N revealed a modern introduced hardcore (T 0.3-0.6m) over the area (excavations.ie 2017:632). Beneath this an inner band (Wth 6m) of grey-brown clayey silt was separated by a band (Wth c. 6m) of compacted stoney clay with some charcoal flecking from an outer band (Wth 6m) of grey-brown silt. The silt deposits from the two fosses were not sampled. The development was re-designed and further works were archaeologically monitored to ensure that the remains are preserved in situ under introduced soils, but the nature of the enclosure is unclear as its innermost defining feature appears to have been a fosse. (Halpin 2018, 2018a)

Further archaeological testing (21E0302) by E. Halpin at the S edge of the enclosure and further S revealed a thick overburden (D 0.8-1.1m) over the area of the enclosure, elements of which were not encountered (excavations. ie 2021:510). Testing over more distant areas showed a deeper deposit of made ground (D up to 2.2m) which may be where spoil was placed. (Halpin 2021)

See the attached view from the Down Survey barony map (N at bottom), courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

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

Revised by: Michael Moore
Date of revision: 26 October 2021
Amended: 24 March 2023

References

OSAP - Ordnance Survey Aerial Photographs. Photographic collection. Ordnance Survey of Ireland. Dublin.

CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1940 The Civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. V: county of Meath. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.

SMR file - Sites and monuments record files in the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Herity, M. (ed.) 2001 Ordnance Survey Letters: Meath. Dublin. Four Masters Press

Halpin, E. 2018 Archaeological Testing Report, Blackhall Big, Dunblyne, Co. Meath. Licence: 17E0358. Unpublished report, Archaeology and Heritage Consultancy

Halpin, E. 2018a Phases 1 and 2 Archaeological monitoring at Blackhall Big, Co. Meath. Licence: 17E0358 ext. Unpublished report, Archaeology and Heritage Consultancy

Halpin, E. 2021 Archaeological testing relating to proposed developments at Blackhall Big, Dunboyne, Co. Meath. Licence: 21E0302. Unpublished report, Archaeology & Heritage Consultancy