Road - road/trackway

The National Monuments Service's description

On a NE-facing slope in the field immediately SE of the medieval church (TS082-068001-) of Ardfinnan, under pasture. A hilltop enclosure (TS082-090----) is visible c. 400m to the E. A number of earthworks (TS082-068002-) show up on aerial photographs (CUCAP 13 July 1966 APA 10 and 8 and GSI May 1977 S.689/8) between the church and the trackway. On the hill NE of the church there is a circular enclosure (TS082-068004-) the edge of which coincides with the edge of the disused roadway/hollow. This disused trackway (L c. 560m; Wth 5.9m) which runs NE-SW is marked on the 1st (1840) OS 6-inch map and on the 1904-05 ed. the lower portion is shown as a footpath, while the upper portion has become a field boundary. It runs downslope (L c. 250m) to NE and crosses a tarmacadamed road, it continues to run up the hill (L c. 330m) to NE of the church hill (Wth 4.5m; H of scarp 0.32m over 6m) before again meeting a tarmacadamed road (L 750m), which leads onto a disused footpath (L c. 1.5km) before joining with a possible section of the Rian Bo Phadraig which is a tarmacadamed road (TS082-006----). The SW section of this trackway runs up over the church hill and down to the base of this slope. However, this downslope section has been interrupted by the insertion of a garden across its path. The trackway is defined by a bank on either side. The NW side (Wth 0.8m; int. H 0.42m; ext. H 0.12m) is built into the slope while the SE side (Wth 1m crest, 1.7m base; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 0.75m) is free standing. The inner face of both banks is stone revetted. The roadway continues NE down the hill slope but is less clear than on the SW side of the hill.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 11 February 2014