Castle - motte

The National Monuments Service's description

On top of a natural gravel mound in an upland region with good views in all directions. A large impressive motte which has been almost totally destroyed by quarrying between 1973 and 1975. Originally a flat-topped mound (approx. top dims. 20.3m x 23.6m; H 2m above fosse; 4m above external ground) defined by a scarp with a wide flat-bottomed fosse (base Wth 10m; ext. D 1m) and external earth and stone bank (base Wth 6m; top Wth 2m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.8m). Gravel quarrying has quarried away most of the motte and the enclosing fosse and bank from S through W to N, only a portion of the enclosing bank, fosse and E side of mound survives. This was probably because of the close proximity to the public road which curves around the enclosing bank and fosse to the E of the motte. The motte is very overgrown with upcast on the E end which obscures all original features. The gravel quarry surrounds the partial remains of the monument from S through W to N. An aerial photograph (CUCAP ADZ 76, July 1966) shows how impressive the motte was and the close proximity of a gravel quarry to the N of the monument in 1966, this quarry eventually moved southwards and resulted in the partial destruction of the motte between 1974 and 1976. A field report of the destruction in 1976 reports the digging of a pit on top of the mound inside which were found antler bone, an iron knife and a perforated stone (NMI file 1976).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011