Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Ballingarry

In reclaimed grassland, Ballingarry church and graveyard (LI049-107001-/002-) lie 135m to E. In 1840 the Ordnance Survey recorded this monument as a flat moat 23 paces in diameter at the top and about 10ft. [3m] above the level of the field’ (OSL, Vol. 1, 211). Depicted on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map as a raised oval-shaped platform(dims. c. 25m N-S; 20m E-W) defined by a scarp, with fosse from S-W-NW. Recorded by Leask in 1938 (NMI topographical files) as a ‘flat topped fort 55 ft [16.76m], with site of a house 20’ [6.09m] x 9’ [2.74m]. Fosse toward the S’. Described by Hunt (1951, 73) as a ‘raised platform ringfort with fosse and Norman house site on top’. Excavated by Hunt in 1949, who summarised his results as following; ‘This year’s work gave additional confirmation that the structure was not, as its shape suggested, a Norman erection. Evidence of a number of superimposed buildings was found, and the several phases of the growth of the Down from a simple ringfort with low bank to its present Motte-like form, were traced. Section of the ground plans of several houses were revealed pointing to an intensive habitation from Early Christian times, and the former existence of a second and outer fosse was shown. A noteworthy feature of the excavation was the remarkable state of preservation of much of the organic material found' (Hunt 1951, 71-6). Earthwork visible as a raised oval-shaped platform defined by a fosse on Digital Globe orthoimage taken between 2011-13 and on Google Earth orthoimages. See attached Google Earth orthoimages. Compiled by: Fiona Rooney Date of upload: 3 November 2021