Linear earthwork

The National Monuments Service's description

This is the boundary of the manor of Lismore on the Knockmealdown Mountains as marked on maps by Scalé (NLI: ms. 7217, 1, 34) of the Duke of Devonshire's estate, dated 1774. The boundary begins on the W at the headwaters of a small N-S stream feeding the Blackwater River, between the townlands of Barranmanoge and Ballyin Upper, W of Lismore, on the N bank. The boundary extends N as far as the county boundary with Tipperary between the townlands of Knocknalougha and Glentaunatinagh, and follows the county boundary E for c. 8km before turning S between the townlands of Dyrick Upper and Knocknafallia, until it reaches the headwaters of the N-S Monavugga River which enters the Blackwater River at Cappoquin. The boundary has a total length of c. 20 km, although there are places where it disappears or has been removed. At the W end, in lowland areas, it is a stone-faced, earthen field bank (Wth c. 3m; H c. 1.5m) and it maintains this character in upland areas also, but with a sod core. On steeper slopes it is a stone-built wall (Wth 1-2m).
As it incorporates a boundary stone called the 'Duke's Stone' (WA012-002----) and the Lismore lands were acquired by William Cavendish, the fourth Duke of Devonshire in 1753 through his wife, Lady Charlotte Boyle, the daughter and heiress of the fourth Earl of Cork, the boundary was probably built by the fourth Duke or one of his heirs.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Revised by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 30 November 2011