Moated site, Foxhall, Co. Galway

Co. Galway |

Castle Features

Moated site, Foxhall, Co. Galway

On the eastern bank of a small stream in the flat pastures of Foxhall, County Galway, sits a remarkably well-preserved medieval moated site.

This square earthwork, measuring 32 metres on each side, consists of two concentric banks with a water-filled ditch running between them. The inner bank, which stands about 1.4 metres high on its outer face and runs approximately 5.7 metres wide, forms a complete circuit around the site, though its northern and southern sections have been incorporated into later field boundaries that are now overgrown with trees.

The defensive ditch, or fosse as it's known in archaeological terms, remains waterlogged and measures roughly 2.2 metres across. While most of this ancient moat survives intact, a section running from east to southeast has been lost over time. Beyond the ditch, remnants of an outer bank can still be traced along the western and northern sides of the site, standing about 0.8 metres high and spanning 3.3 metres in width.

These moated sites were typically constructed during the Anglo-Norman period in Ireland, from the late 12th century onwards, and served as fortified farmsteads for colonising families. The Foxhall example represents one of many such earthworks scattered across the Irish countryside, offering a tangible link to the medieval settlement patterns that shaped Galway's rural landscape. The site was documented as part of the Galway Archaeological Survey conducted by University College Galway, with records uploaded to public databases in December 2019.

Rated 0 out of 5

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete F
Pete F
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Moated site, Foxhall, Co. Galway. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 100 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Advertisement