Castle - motte and bailey

The National Monuments Service's description

Orpen (1911-20 ii, 81) suggests that the motte was built by the elder Hugh de Lacy (d. 1186) but Graham (1980, 53) indicates that it may have been constructed closer to 1192. The castle of Fore was one of those confiscated from de Lacy by King John in 1210 but it was restored to him in 1215 (Sweetman 1875, No. 612). The motte was the centre of a large manor but after 1215 nothing is known of its history except the names of the individuals who owned it (Bradley et. al. 1985, 75).
The site is situated on a ridge which affords commanding views on the south and west, but the view to the north and east is blocked by hills. The motte consists of an oval-plan conical mound rising from a basal width of 42m by 24m to a flat top measuring 26.2m by 16.8m. The bailey is square (18m x 18m) and lies south-west of the motte being seperated from it by a shallow ditch 3.5m wide. The motte and bailey is enclosed on the north, east, and south sides by a steep-sided ditch 7m wide with a counterscarp bank, 8-10m wide. A further short section of ditch, 2.2m wide, with a bank 11m wide, is present at the north-east end. On the south-east the front of the bailey is stone-faced and there is evidence for a causeway linking the bailey to the rest of the ridge. At the north-east end of the ridge there are grass covered earthworks for a three-roomed rectangular structure 17m in length, with a circular depression at the west end having a diameter of 6.7 m. South-east of the motte are a number of banks and ditches running up the side of Gallow's Hill. These may be the remains of field fences but their date and function is unclear (Bradley et. al. 1985, 75-6).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 25 November 2013

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H. 1985 Urban archaeological survey - county Westmeath. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Sweetman, H.S. (ed.) 1875 Calendar of documents, relating to Ireland. Vol.i, 1171-1251. Dublin.

Graham, B.J. 1980 The mottes of the Norman liberty of Meath. In H. Murtagh (ed.), Irish midland studies: essays in commemoration of N.W. English, 39-56. Athlone. Old Athlone Society.

Orpen, G.H. 1911-20 Ireland under the Normans (1169-1216), 4 vols. Oxford. Clarendon Press.