What is recorded here

Indicated is a circular enclosure on the former demesne lands of Castlehill House in County Mayo, Ireland. It appeared on the 1838 map as an open circle, but the 1922 map showed a wall and trees inside. The original purpose remains unclear, perhaps a tree-ring or an older rath changed for ornament. Today oak rings the scarp, pine stumps dot the ground, and a modern wall stands slightly outside the ancient edge.

In pasture, on the former demesne lands of Castlehill House, located on the SW side of a narrow WNW–ESE gravel ridge. Views are restricted by rising ground to N–NE, but there is a broad vista of rolling grasslands to S. Shown as a circular enclosure on the 1838 OS 6-inch map; by the time of the 1922 edition it is shown enclosed by a wall and the interior is planted with trees. Slightly raised circular flat-topped area (24m N–S; 24.6m E–W) defined by a low, poorly defined scarp (H 0.4m). A few stones protrude in parts along the rim of the scarp. A modern mortared stone wall encircles the enclosure, at a distance of 3.8m from the scarp. The scarp is ringed with oak trees. A few Scot’s pine grow in the interior, which is dotted with tree stumps. The original function of this enclosure is not clear –it may have been constructed as a tree-ring or it may be an earlier enclosure or rath modified to serve as a tree-ring. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 14 August 2019

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