What is recorded here

Laughil preserves a rare square moated earthwork rather than a circular one, measuring thirty-eight metres across and still holding its western entrance line. Two banks frame a five-metre fosse around a small interior platform, while a circular foundation in the south-west corner may have been a turret or a lime kiln. The shape suggests deliberate local craftsmanship instead of copied English fashion, perhaps belonging to a family proud enough to mark its home in angular stone and water.

In pasture on low-lying land. Square shaped area (38.5m N-S; 37.7m E-W ) enclosed by two earthen banks separated by an intervening fosse (Wth 5m) with possible entrance feature at W, however this may be modern fill. Inner bank (Wth 1m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 3m); poorly preserved outer bank is levelled at W. The site has an overall diameter 54m N-S by 52m E-W. Foundations of a circular tower in SW corner of site may be the site of a lime kiln or possible corner turret of fortified moated site. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

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