Earthwork

The National Monuments Service's description

Within the demesne of Markree Castle (SL026-038----), in level damp pasture, immediately N of woodland enclosed by the demesne wall. A low circular earthen platform (33m E-W; 34m N-S) defined SW-ENE by a low degraded scarp (H 0.4m) and E-SSW by a vertical scarp (H 1m). Centrally placed on top of the platform is a circular earthen plinth (diam. 10.5m; H 1.1m) topped by a ruined square stone turret (4.2m N-S; 4.3m E-W; H 4m). The turret has a brick-built chimney in the NW corner, a small splayed window in the N wall, a second window in the S wall and a door ope (Wth 0.8m) in the W wall. Encircling the base of the plinth is a shallow fosse (Wth 2m) crossed by a causeway at S. The demesne wall curves around the base of the platform E-SSW, at a distance of 1.6m from it. Though the turret is of 18th/19th-century date, the platform may be the remains of an earlier earthwork.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005).

Date of upload: 18 January 2008