What is recorded here

Thirty metres east of the Pass of Kilbride, a two-metre steep-sided motte rises above the undulating countryside, its base ringed by a wide shallow fosse but devoid of any visible bailey. The mound sits beside an ancient church, graveyard and St. Bridget’s Well, suggesting a inhabited spiritual landscape rather than a purely military one. Nicholas Darcy held the lands in 1640, yet the 1654 Down Survey map shows no castle or church, leaving the motte’s exact purpose and timing uncertain.

On a slight natural rise of ground in undulating countryside with good views in all directions. Located 300m E of the Pass of Kilbride. Church (WM034-002001-) and graveyard (WM034-002003-) located 85m to the WNW and St. Bridget’s Well (WM034-001----) 140m to the NNW. Steep sided mound (H 2m), there is a low rise on the centre of the summit, the significance of which is unclear. At the base of the motte from NE-E-S-W to WNW there is a wide shallow fosse. No visible trace of a bailey. The Milltownpass-Kinnegad road (N6) running E-W intersects the base of the motte at N. On the 1654 Down Survey parish map of the Pass of Kilbride (‘Pacekilbride’), the lands of the Pass of Kilbride belonged to Nicholas Darcy in 1640, an Irish papist (NLI p.7384). No castle or church and graveyard are depicted on the 1654 Down Survey map. Traces of linear earthworks in field to the SW are visible on Bing Maps aerial photographs taken between 06-07 November 2011 (www.bing.com/maps). These earthworks could be the remains of a medieval road associated with the motte. See attached word document with Bing Maps aerial photograph taken from www.bing.com/maps showing linear earthworks in field to SW of motte. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 29 July 2013

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.