Rathdown Castle (in ruins) — Rathdown Upper

Situated on a very gentle E-facing slope overlooking the sea to the E. The masonry castle of Rathdown (WI008-011-----) was enclosed by a square shaped enclosure or moated site (dims. 43m x 43m) that was bisected by a road or laneway running E-W as depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. The cropmark of the N half of this square-shaped enclosure is clearly visible on aerial photographs taken on the 16/07/1970 (CUCAP, BDP025/026). The cropmark indicates that this earthwork was defined by a fosse (Wth 6m; D 0.8m) with a well-defined entrance causeway (Wth 7m) midway along the N side. A laneway cuts diagonally across the S portion of the site but the continuation of the fosse and the SW angle of the site can be clearly made out on the photograph with a castle site (WI008-011----) just S of the lane. The cropmark of a second outer fosse (Wth 3m) can be seen 14m to the N of the inner fosse with a corresponding entrance gap (Wth 7m) at N. This outer enclosing element continues on the S side of the laneway where it joins a narrow stream gully at the SW. This outer enclosing feature on the S side of the road is depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. These earthworks represented the defended bailey or courtyard of the masonry castle of Rathdown. There is a possibility that the earthwork pre-dated the stone castle and represented the remains of a earlier earth and timber castle dating from the late 12th or early 13th century. It has been suggested that this enclosure is contemporaneous with the stone castle and represents a Gaelic moated castle site built in the 13th century by the Mac Giollamocholmóg clan (Simpson 1994, 218). Other linear cropmarks visible on the aerial photographs to the N of the castle site indicate the presence of a deserted medieval village (WI008-012002-) associated with the 'manor of Rathdown'. A small church (WI008-012001-) known as St. Crispin's Cell lies 195m to the SW. In 1838 the enclosing earthwork was described as a 'Rath' that was upstanding on the E and S sides. The Ordnance Survey Letters recorded that the 'castle of Rathdown was built on the north side of a Rath (WI008-011001-) of considerable dimensions, large portions of which remain yet on the south and east of the castle. The ground on the north of this place still retains various traces of buildings or enclosures (WI008-011002-), but whether they belonged to the Rath or the castle I cannot say' (O'Flanagan 1928, 39-40). This reference to various traces of buildings or enclosures to the N of the castle indicates the presence of a deserted medieval settlement (WI008-011002-). In 1994 archaeological test trenching was carried out by Margaret Gowen under licence No. 94E0048 along a portion of a proposed sewage pipeline forming part of the Greystones Sewerage Scheme. The sewage pipeline corridor runs through the field to the west of the castle site and present sewage treatment works crossing the remains of a supposed ‘mill race’ (tail race?) and other features of apparently agricultural derivation. The archaeological test trenching was undertaken to assess the area crossed by the pipeline corridor to ensure that no features of archaeological interest would be damaged during the pipe-laying process. The results of the assessment indicate that the pipeline crosses a relatively marginal area of archaeological activity, with some features dating back to the medieval period and some of obviously more recent date. Most of the features revealed have an agricultural derivation and some of the features certainly appear to date to the medieval period, i.e. during the occupancy of the castle and surrounding settlement. During the construction of the treatment works, which involved extensive excavation for the insertion of tanks and a comprehensive re-grading of the site, archaeologically sensitive material and soils as they cross the line were removed. Some of the remains of the structure recorded in 1972 and the supposed line of the ditch on the west and south side of the moated enclosure were also removed along with the remains of a later lime kiln. Nothing can now be seen of the archaeological remains on the site but sub-surface remains have survived in places. The masonry recorded in the 1972 inspection of the site lay in the south-west corner of the moated enclosure (WI008-011001-). Archaeological assessment of the proposed new works involved the opening and inspection of four test trenches which revealed ephemeral traces of archaeological deposits as follows: 1) At the extreme north of the site the most ephemeral remains of masonry structures, in the form of blocky stones and mortar, were noted in humic soil at a depth of 0.4m below ground level at the north of the trench. 2) Running north–south, the scant remains of the base of the main enclosure ditch still survives some 19–23m to the east of the western perimeter fence (in the area tested); the remains of the outer ditch are likely to have been removed during the excavation for the surface water-drain just inside the fence-line. 3) The southern line of the ditch underlies the present building, inspection chamber, roadway and northern disposal tanks. Excavation for the rising main which runs east–west across the site will have almost certainly caused further disturbance to the southern side of the enclosure ditch. Some remains of it may exist, however, just to the north of the rising main (Excavations 1994 No. 233). In 2016 a gradiometer and resistance survey was undertaken by Leigh Surveys under licence No. 16R0063 in the area to the N of Rathdown Castle (Burbridge et. al. 2017, 38; Leigh 2016,7). The results of the survey was summarised by Leigh Surveys as following; 'The results have detected responses indicative of archaeological activity. The responses identified are fragmented. There is clear correlation with the aerial photograph (CUCAP BDP025/026) but much of the site has remained undetected in the data, with the responses identified having a fragmented appearance. This suggests this site has been heavily plough damaged. Nevertheless, the responses are indicative of a former field system, with ditched boundary features and clear ploughing trends' (Leigh 2016, 7). See attached site plan of moated site taken from Gowen 1994 The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 27 July 2018