Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Indicated as semi-circular earthwork on the 1858 'OS 6-inch' map, with E side cut by buildings associated with thrashing. Heavily overgrown and planted with a variety of trees. Slopes steeply from E to W. Raised oval area (c. 60 m N-S; 30m E-W; H above fosse c. 6m) surrounded by fosse (max. Wth c. 2.5m) and outer bank (Wth c. 1.5m; H c. 1m). A mid 19th century structure with a circular element, known as 'the dairy' is located on top of earthwork to the N. This structure which is in disrepair may have been a folly or incorporated a folly. According to the landowner, this structure was inhabited by a herdsman for the Shirley Estate until the 1970s. The earthwork is probably a bund or earthwork barrier erected to prevent sound from the farmyard reaching the Lough Fea House, which is c. 150m to the W.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of revision: 31 July 2013