Bawn in Ballyvadin (magorban Par.)

In improved pasture, on a very gentle S-facing slope. A possible enclosure (TS062-076001-) is located c. 20m to S, with the scant remains of a curvilinear bank, running ENE-E-SE in between. The Civil Survey 1654-56 (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 200) mentions 'a small castle wanting repaire' on the lands of 'George Comyn of Ballyvadin Irish Papist'. A rectangular enclosure, possibly the bawn of this castle (TS062-143----), was indentified on an aerial photograph (GSI S.625/4 16/04/1974) defined by a field boundary to W and W end of S side and by a cropmark for the remainder of the S side and the E and N side. The western third of this enclosure is visible as scarp (Wth 1.75; H 0.7m) at the W end of the N (L 32m) and S sides (L 21m) and a more pronounced scarp (Wth 4.9m; H 1.0m) (L 58m) along the W side; with a fosse (overall Wth 6.4m; basal Wth 2.5m; D 0.9m) along the W end of the S side and an outer bank (overall Wth 7.85m; Wth at top 1.4m; int. H 1.8; ext. H 0.9m) along the S side which has been modified by the addition of earthen material on the exterior and planted with whitethorn saplings. The interior appears to be raised above the external field level to the N, S, and W. This area is known locally as the 'castle yard' due to its association with the site of Ballyvadin Castle (TS062-143----), which is depicted within this vicinity on the Down Survey composite map (1655-58). According to local information, when the field to the E was levelled out, lots of masonry was exposed where the castle was previously understood to have existed. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011