What is recorded here
Spences Fort stands as a scheduled rath in Maghaberry, County Antrim, preserving an earthwork from the early Christian period. The name suggests a family claim or local memory, yet the fort itself predates written records and belongs to everyone who walks its rim. Its stones and soil have witnessed centuries of rain, fire, footsteps and forgetting. To stand inside is to join a long line of people who shaped, used or abandoned the same ground.
The official Northern Ireland record identifies this as RATH: SPENCES FORT. Recorded period: E.CHRIST.. Recorded protection: Scheduled. The official map point was placed at the centre of the recorded archaeological site from the source map reference.
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
Places near here
ENCLOSURE (O.S. memoir site, unlocated) in BallynalargyENCLOSURE (O.S. memoir site, unlocated) · 114 yd
ENCLOSURE (O.S. memoir site, unlocated) in DerryniskENCLOSURE (O.S. memoir site, unlocated) · 1129 yd
CHURCH, ROUND TOWER, GRAVEYARD & CROSS-CARVED STONE: RATHMESK, TRUMMERY ROUND TOWER in TrummeryCHURCH, ROUND TOWER, GRAVEYARD & CROSS-CARVED STONE: RATHMESK, TRUMMERY ROUND TOWER · 1179 yd
Moira Railway StationRailway Station Structures · 1.5 mi
WELL & ?CASTLE in InisloughlinWELL & ?CASTLE · 1.6 mi_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3017022.jpg?width=1280)
Spencer's BridgeBridge · 1.7 mi
CASTLE (site of): MOIRA CASTLE in RiskCASTLE (site of): MOIRA CASTLE · 2.3 mi
C17TH CHURCH & GRAVEYARD: BALLINDERRY NEW CHURCH in BallinderryC17TH CHURCH & GRAVEYARD: BALLINDERRY NEW CHURCH · 3.1 mi
Belshaw's Quarry Nature ReserveNature reserve · 4.0 mi
Hillsborough FortVisitor information · 4.9 mi
Lake TrailWalking route · 5.1 mi
Hillsborough Forest ParkForest · 5.2 mi