Enclosure in Quarryfield

Located on a low, dry rise in an expanse of damp, lowlying, rush-grown pasture, on the E bank of a meandering N-flowing stream. The stream lies 4-5m to W of the SW arc of the enclosure. There is a forestry plantation on the W bank of the stream. The enclosure is overlooked by a N-S ridge, located c. 100m to E, on the summit of which is a rath (SL038-062----). This enclosure is not shown on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps. It consists of a low, oval platform (44m E−W; 31.5m N−S) defined by a scarp (Wth of slope c. 2-3m; ext. H 0.5m, 0.8m at W) and enclosed by a fosse. The scarp is highest on the W arc of the enclosure, where the ground dips naturally to the stream. The fosse is barely discernible as a very slight depression (Wth 1-1.5m) at N−S, marked by a band (Wth c. 2m) of yellow flag iris at NW and S. The N half of the grass-covered interior appears very slightly higher than the S half. The entrance may be at E, where there is a low area (Wth 2.5-3m) in the scarp with a hint of a causeway over the fosse. Several roughly circular, vegetation-covered stony heaps (diam. c. 3-4; H 1m) line the edge of the stream, probably upcast material from dredging. Two of these overlie the enclosure scarp at W and SW. Images: SL038-145----_01.JPG Enclosure viewed from E SL038-145----_01.JPG Enclosure viewed from N Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 6 November 2017