What is recorded here

Indicated is a moated site in County Cork where a penny of Edward 1 dropped under the southern bank in 1279 or 1280 still marks the moment its walls went up. Inside the two-metre-deep watercut, a rectangular stone building kept eight hearths and shallow trenches that probably gripped wooden beams, while a smaller square structure at the north-east corner collected refuse or served as a garderobe. The gatehouse on the eastern side wore a battered outer face, suggesting it took blows or simply weathered hard. Now pasture covers the stones, but the shape remains clear enough to imagine people moving through a small, defended world where daily life and danger shared the same narrow space.

In pasture, on gentle sloping hill. Excavated by Sweetman (1981, 193-205). Excavation revealed area enclosed by bank and moat (D c. 2m). Penny of Edward 1 dating to 1279-80 found under S bank gives construction date. Interior: remains of rectangular stone structure (A). Inside, trenches (L 1m - 2m; Wth 0.25m; D 0.25m) running parallel to side walls probably held wooden beams. Also numerous post-holes and eight informal hearths. Another square stone structure (B) outside NE corner of A was interpreted as a refuse collection area or garderobe. Remains of stone gatehouse (C) built against inner face of moat to E; outer face of structure battered. Finds include second penny of Edward 1, Medieval and Post-Medieval pottery, spindle whorls, net weight and pieces of iron. Overgrown. See McCarthy, M. 2002 'Rigsdale; Medieval moated site', in I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2000: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 51-52. Wordwell Ltd, Bray. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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