What is recorded here

Castle, motte and bailey in Newtown stood beside the N2 until destruction in 1952, presenting a 28m circular platform, 3m high, surrounded by a wide fosse and an oval bailey stretching 100m east-west and 70m north-south. People may have lived, worked or watched from that raised ground, while the surrounding earthwork marked the limits of daily life. The site still gives back hints through soilmarks, cropmarks and geophysical traces, suggesting the fosse and internal features never fully disappeared.

Situated in a field next to the N2. Prior to its destruction in 1952 this site comprised a circular platform (diam. 28m; H 3m) which was enclosed around the base by a wide fosse. This flat-topped platform was further enclosed by an oval earthwork or bailey (dims. 100m E-W; 70m N-S; NMI IA 245/1952). The site is visible as a soilmark on an aerial photograph taken in 1971 (FSI 2.4154/4) and on colour vertical photograph (OS 8/Flight 31, 7616 see Healy 1975, 26). A cropmark showing oval enclosure with the faint traces of a smaller oval enclosure within is visible on digital globe aerial view created on the 9 June 2016 The site was subject to geophysical survey and test excavation (Licence no. 04E0807). The geophysical survey concluded there were extensive archaeological remains present including the enclosing fosse and internal features of a motte and bailey. Text excavation confirmed the presence of archaeological remains (the fosse measures 5m in width). A burnt mound was also identified. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 22 January 2015

Built in the early 13th century, likely by Anglo-Norman settlers expanding into the Dublin region, the castle at Newtown was an important defensive and administrative outpost during the Anglo-Irish colonization. Its strategic location near the N2 route highlights its role in controlling local trade and movement in medieval times.

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