Castle - motte and bailey

The National Monuments Service's description

Returning from Wales in 1167 Diarmuid Mac Murchada landed at Glascarrig, which may have served as a port for Ferns (Colfer 2002, 11). After the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1170 Glascarrig was granted to Raymond le Gros and by the end of the century it had passed to his nephew William de Caunteton, who may have constructed the motte. The Cauntetons continued to hold the manor of Glascarrig until it was destroyed by MacMurchada in 1311, after which it may have been abandoned. Forty eight burgages are recorded in 1311 (Griffith 1952, 160), indicating a substantial settlement. (Breen 2007, 67-8).
The motte is located on a slight promontory (H c. 10m) overlooking the seashore immediately to the N and E. It is a flat-topped, grass-covered earthen mound (diam. of top 13m; diam. of base 36m; H 5.8-6m) defined by a flat-bottomed fosse (Wth of top 6–8m; D 0.5m at N to 1.7m at S). A possible bailey (dims. 37m E-W; 24-27m N-S) is a grass-covered area to the S defined by the sea at E, a gorge (D 4m) at S and an earthen bank (Wth 4-05m; ext. H 1m; L 27m) at W. The E side of the motte's fosse is being eroded by the sea.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload/revision: 21 May, 2012

References

Breen, C. 2007 An eroding earthwork castle in Wexford. In C. Manning (Ed.) From ringforts to fortified houses. Studies on castles and other monuments in honour of David Sweetman, 65-74. Wordwell. Bray.

Griffith, M.C. 1952 Calendar of justiciary rolls, Ireland. (vol. VIII). Dublin.

Colfer, B. 2002 Arrogant trespass: Anglo-Norman Wexford 1169-1400. Enniscorthy, Duffry Press