Souterrain in Oldbridge

Situated just off the brow of a ridge on gently sloping land overlooking the Boyne river valley to the north. The remains of a souterrain passage is visible via three gaps in the roof that were exposed as result of ploughing resulting in a shallow depression c. 6m x 4m. The passage, 0.7m wide and averaging 0.70m high in the exposed sections runs approximately north-south and it proved possible to examine only a small section of it where lintels have been removed. The walls are composed of dry-stone walling on top which rests a series of lintels. The passage measures at least 9m in length and curves northwards from the exposed section in the depression. Further collapse of a section of the souterrain took place in 2014 some 3.8m north of the existing openings. The souterrain appears to terminate immediately south of the southern-most gap but it is very collapsed in this area and the visible corner may represent an angled turn with the passage turning towards the east. Image 1: View of the depression looking south with the northern and souther gaps in the roof of the souterrain visible. Image 2: The passage curving to the north taken from the northern-most gap. Image 3: The passage looking south taken from the northern-most gap. Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 3 April 2014