Moated site, Aughclare, Co. Wexford

Co. Wexford |

Castle Features

Moated site, Aughclare, Co. Wexford

On the eastern slopes of Slievecoiltia in County Wexford, a small rectangular enclosure catches the eye of those who know where to look.

First recorded on the 1839 Ordnance Survey map, this earthwork measures roughly 45 metres northwest to southeast and 40 metres northeast to southwest. The site consists of a sunken, grass-covered rectangular area, approximately 30 metres by 16 metres, with depths varying between 0.4 and 0.8 metres below the surrounding ground level.

This intriguing feature appears to be a moated site, one of many medieval earthworks scattered across the Irish countryside. These rectangular enclosures, typically surrounded by water-filled ditches, were once common defensive homesteads built by Anglo-Norman settlers and wealthy Irish families during the 13th and 14th centuries. The moat would have served both as protection and as a status symbol, marking the residence of someone with considerable local influence.

What makes this particular site especially interesting is its proximity to another moated enclosure, located just 20 metres to the southwest. This clustering of medieval earthworks suggests the area around Aughclare may have been a significant settlement during the medieval period. The steep eastern-facing slope would have provided natural defence whilst offering commanding views across the surrounding landscape; practical considerations that medieval builders took seriously when choosing where to establish their fortified homes.

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Pete F
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