Henge

The National Monuments Service's description

Surveyed in 2012 and described by McGuinness (2012, 36-7) as following: ‘Enormous circular enclosure (overall ext. diam. 115m ENE-WSW) comprising a flat-topped central platform surrounded by a broad, deep ditch and a large, flat-topped external bank, with a circular mound and embanked enclosure on the central platform. There are many minor undulations on surface of platform and, given the extensive growth of nettles when examined, it is possible that there are other, unnoticed features here. Except for parts of NE and NW, perimeter of site is covered in trees and bushes; where these are present, bank and ditch are very well preserved on account of the roots creating a rigid mesh which keeps the earth front eroding, and the canopy lessening the impact of precipitation. In places, central platform appears to rise above external ground level, suggesting that the low hilltop has been scarped. Its upper surface measures 89m N-S x 82m E-W; the corresponding measurements for base of platform are 97m N-S x 90.5m E-W. Where well preserved, platform has clearly defined edge with steep drop into ditch, although in some places, such as WSW side, edge of platform is indistinct and ditch silted up due to movement of cattle. On well-preserved NW side, platform rises up to 2.6m above base of ditch. Where best preserved, ditch is flat-bottomed, up to 5m in width, and, where deepest at NW side, maximum depth below and perpendicular to a line joining top of bank to upper surface of platform is 2.5m. On NW side width of upper part of ditch from upper edge of platform to inner edge of top of bank is 14.2m. Where best preserved, such as SW side, bank is up to 13.5m in width, has a broad, flat upper surface, 2-3.5m in width, reaches up to 1.5m above external ground level and up to 2.6m above base of ditch. It width varies greatly around the site, being quite narrow at more exposed and consequently more eroded N side and much wider at tree-covered S side. There are various minor, modern breaches in the bank due to movement of cattle.
Mound lies to NW of centre of enclosure, 13.5m from NW edge of platform. Although its edges are difficult to make out in places, especially under summer vegetation, it appears to be sub-circular (Diam. 13.5m N-S x 16m E-W) with greatest height of 0.9m above level of platform on NW side due to platform sloping gently downwards from S to N. Embanked enclosure is located 29.5m to SE of mound, on SE edge of platform abutting the ditch, and comprises a roughly D-shaped area (33m N-S x 19m E-W) defined on E side by ditch of main enclosure and on W side by a flat-topped bank 2.6m wide at base and 0.67m high above external ground level. The overall impression is that the enclosure is curvilinear, but aside from where it abuts ditch of main enclosure it is really constructed of four straight or only slightly curved stretches of bank. Moving anticlockwise from N to S, these are 8m, 6m, 17m and 20m in length respectively. There is a clear, neat entrance, 2m in width, in the first of these, at N end of enclosure. Ground within enclosure is irregular, though generally higher than level of platform on which it rests, with what appear to be several raised mounds to S of centre. Site is on low hilltop in lush pastureland; a kettle-hole lake lies in field to NE, in hollow at base of eminence on which monument is sited’.

See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by David McGuinness.

Date of upload: 22 April 2016

References

McGuinness, D. 2012 The prehistoric burial mounds and related monument of County Westmeath. Part I - Preliminary account of the monuments in the Lough Owel Area (Barony of Corkaree and part of Barony of Moyashel & Magheradernon). Unpublished survey funded by Westmeath County Council in association with Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society.