Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Monument surveyed by ASI in 1976 and described as following; 'A rectangular embankment of earth and stone with the earth covered footings of a stone wall at its edge on the N and w and probably also the S. There is an external fosse with an outer bank. There is no indication of the stone wall on the E but the ground slopes down here and it is very faint on the S. The fosse and external bank are best preserved on the N and W, and are faint on the S. On the E the fosse and bank seem to be incorporated in a field fence which runs (roughly N-S) along this side of the site. This latter field fence may also incorporate a boundary bank running to the S enclosing one side of a field to the S of this site. There is what may be a hut site in the SE corner of the modern field but this is rather doubtful. Consisting of a roughly rectangular depression with some evidence of stone in the sides. There are two causeways across the fosse, one on the W and the other on the S and both may be original entrances. A later field bank running E-W begins at the outer edge of the W causeway and runs to the W for a short distance. The interior is fairly level in the W but slopes towards the E. At the S there are fairly substantial remains, grass covered stone footings of a rectangular structure with some grass covered collapse around it. The NW corner of this feature survives to a height of approx. 2m and part of its E wall also survives to a height of c. 1.5m. The walls are built of horizontal courses of undressed stone bonded with mortar. There is a small short wall running out from the N wall of this structure and forms 2 bays against the inside of the N wall. There is a shallow depression with very faint and indefinite traces of a bank(s) running E-W across it in the N half of the interior. There is a small rectangular depression just N of the site but this is probably due to fairly recent disturbance. The S, N, E and NW sides of this site are slightly overgrown with trees and thorn bushes. The site is at the S end of a N-S ridge in fairly good pasture and there are extensive views to the W, S and E '(SMR File 10/08/1976). According to Swan (1988, 12) the circular enclosure defined by an earthen bank and ditch represented the remains of an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure. However it is possible that this earthwork represents the remains of the precinct boundary wall of the Dominican Friary (WM032-028001-) rather than an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure.

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 24 August 2015

References

Swan, D.L. 1988 The Early Christian ecclesiastical sites of County Westmeath. In J. Bradley (ed.), Settlement and society in Medieval Ireland: studies presented to F.X. Martin O.S.A., 1-31. Kilkenny. Boethius Press.