Enclosure in Rathfran

In pasture, on level ground on top of a ridge, with a steep fall of ground to S−SE. A large rectangular field, named ‘Fair Green’ on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps, is located c. 140m to N. This enclosure is not shown on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps. It consists of a penannular area (diam. 16m) defined at N−E by an inward-facing scarp (H 0.7-0.8m) topped with a slightly raised external lip, and at ESE−W by a bank (Wth 1.2m; H 0.4-0.5m) of earth and stone. The bank has a flattened top, and relatively vertical sides. There is a broad break/gap (Wth 9m) in the bank is at NW. In the interior, at the base of the inward-facing scarp there is a very shallow depression/possible ditch (Wth c. 1m), which can be traced N−SE. The interior is level, and flush with exterior ground level at NW (in the area of the break in the bank), but on the NE arc the inward-facing scarp is cut into an area of raised exterior ground occupied by a second roughly circular enclosure (MA015-091002-), which lies immediately to E. A low, grass-covered linear field bank lies 5m to N of the enclosure. It extends ENE−WSW for the almost the full width of the modern field. To N of this, and parallel to it, are fragmentary remains of a second bank, suggesting that the two banks flank the remains of a trackway (Wth 4.5-5m). A discrete, roughly trapezoidal grid of small rectilinear fields extend down the steep SE-facing slope of the ridge from the SE and S side of the enclosure, on an orientation at variance to the current pattern of large rectangular walled fields. This enclosure, and the adjacent one (MA015-091002-), is of uncertain date and function. They both differ somewhat in morphology from ringforts in this area; they may be post-medieval in date. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 11 December 2017