Moated site in Dromdowney Lower

In wet boggy land, at base of gentle N-facing slope. Listed by Barry (1981, 83, no. 31). Rectangular area (62m N-S; 30m E-W) defined by low, wide, earthen bank (int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.35m) on N, E and along E half of S side, with wide, shallow external fosse; deep waterlogged fosse (D 1.5m; Wth 3m) along W half of S side and on W side. According to local information, deep section of fosse recut in 1800s when flax grown in interior. Low counterscarp bank on N side. At E end of N fosse, leat extends NNE for c. 30m (to field boundary), defined by low bank on both sides; no trace of leat on N side of field fence where modern house and garden exists. Square moated annexe adjoins site along N half of W side; raised area (11.6m E-W; 11.3m N-S) defined by scarp (H 2.1m) surrounded by wide, wet fosse (D 1.2m; Wth 4m); shares E fosse with moated site. Low counterscarp bank (H 0.4m) at W end of S side, at S end of W side and for short section at E end of N side. Birch trees cover interior. Annexe depicted on 1842 OS 6-inch map as hachured square enclosure. Numerous linear features formed by low banks and fosses in same field to E and S of moated site, extend S to church site (14475) and burial ground (14091). These include (a) rectangular area (c. 20m N-S; c. 14m E-W) defined by low earthen bank with shallow external fosse; low outer bank on N side curves around NW corner and turns W, for c. 40m, to join SE corner of moated site; E bank of enclosure extends beyond enclosure to N and S, for short distance. (b) immediately W of (a) is low earthen bank extending N for c. 30m and S for c. 86m; at S end it forms right angle and extends c. 14m to E, terminating at E field boundary. (c) extending S from S end of (b) and joining up with E bank of church enclosure (14475) is low earthen bank (Wth 4m; L 32m). (d) extending W from S end of (b) to field boundary to W, is shallow fosse (D 0.5m; Wth 0.8m) with low earthen bank (H 0.6m) on N side. (e) in SE corner of field, is mound (c. 22m N-S; c. 12m E-W; H 1-1.5m; long axis NNW-SSE); with central linear N-S depression. (f) c. 12m S of moated site is sub-square raised area (8m N-S; 8m E-W; H 0.5m) with top surface uneven. Area between this feature and field boundary to W is very wet. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009