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Situated on a ridge overlooking the marshy floor of a stream valley to N. Originally constructed c. 1214 by Henri de Londres, Archbishop of Dublin (Orpen 1908). The present remains consist of an almost square-shaped motte with a possible bailey area on the E side. The site was extensively rebuilt to act as the centre of a campaign against the O'Tooles and at this time it was probably enlarged to its present form. Later the site was granted to the O'Tooles but was destroyed before 1636 and not subsequently repaired. The motte (WI024-003----) has a level summit and steep battered sides faced with uncoursed rubble. In the centre of the E portion are the remains of a Anglo-Norman stone castle or gatehouse (WI024-003001-). The base of the motte is enclosed by a flat-bottomed fosse and, on the N side, by an external bank. A sunken road (Wth 3.5m; L 150m) and an outer bank (Wth 4.5m; H 1m) aligned E-W can be seen running along the N side of the bailey area. This road runs up to the NE angle of the external bank and fosse of the motte and may represent the original access road into the fortification. The posible bailey of the motte consists of a subrectangular area tapering to the E. It is defined by a bank mainly reduced to a scarp along the N and E sides and by a fosse on the S. The sunken road continues along the N and E sides of the bailey. At the E side of the bailey the road appears to run off eastwards into the marshy area. On the N side of the bailey there are traces at the W end of an earthen bank defining the N side of the bailey. On the N side of the bailey the hollow way is flanked by two earthen banks. The S bank acted as the enclosing bank of the bailey on the N side which may suggest that the hollow way was constructed as an enclosing defensive fosse of the bailey on the N side rather than a roadway giving access to the motte.
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.
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload/revision: 16 November 2012
This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed.
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