Settlement cluster in Laracor

Laracor is described in the Civil Survey (1656-8) as a small settlement consisting of a castle, some thatched cottages, a bridge and a church (Simington 1940, 176). The settlement was probably older and would have developed around the motte (ME036-043----) and the parish church (ME036-044----), both of which could date from the late twelfth century. Archaeological excavation (04E0987) in advance of a new line for the R158 road from Trim to Summerhill recovered a large quantity of medieval pottery, which was mostly from the topsoil, in the area E and N of the graveyard. No structures could be identified with the earlier material but occupation continued into the eighteenth century with appropriate ceramics, clay pipes and glass artefacts. Iron working was conducted in the area, and one structure (dims 6m x 6m) was evident in fragments of three walls associated with seventeenth and eighteenth century ceramics. (Breen 2007, 2010, 44-6) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 9 November 2019