Hillfort in Ballyhubbock Upper,brusselstown,castlequarter,castlesallagh,coolamaddra,eadestown Hill,moorstown (talbotstown Upper By.),spinans East,spinans Hill,spinans Middle

A very extensive hillfort complex occupying the whole of the Spinans Hill-Brusselstown hilltop, 6.4km NE of Baltinglass. The hillfort on Brusselstown Hill (known as 'Brusselstown Ring') (WI027-018----)(dims. c. 320m NW-SE; c. 200m NE-SW) is enclosed by a collapsed rampart (Wth 5-12m) composed of limestone boulders and is surmounted by a modern field wall. The interior rises towards several high points (the highest is OD 1327) marked by limestone outcrops. Two hut sites (WI027-018001-, WI027-018002-) have been identified within Brusselstown Ring and another 22 are on the S slopes outside the rampart (WI027-019---- to WI027-01919-). The Spinans Hill hillfort (OD 1346) (WI027-078002-)(dims. 550m N-S; 320m E-W), about 1.5km to the NW, comprises an irregularly shaped area enclosed by a peat-covered earthen bank, best preserved at N and E arid largely levelled over the remainder of its course. A large cairn and five smaller ones (WI027-017001-) lie within the hillfort. At a lower level (OD c. 1000-1100), another outer rampart has been identified which encloses a roughly L-shaped area and encompasses both Spinans Hill and Brusselstown Hill (dims. c. 1500m NW-SE; c. 350-500m NE-SW; 130 hectares). The enclosing element consists in part of a double rampart with intervening fosse (av. total Wth 15m) faced with stone in some areas and is best preserved at E and W. Three gaps at N may represent original entranceways. Other features occurring within the complex are ancient field walls (WI027-078006-), a circular enclosure (diam. 17m) (WI027-078004-) situated some 400m NW of Brusselstown Ring, and a circular platform of stones (diam. 10m) 50m SW of the enclosure. Outside the rampart to the N there is some evidence of settlement comprising enclosures, hut sites and field walls (WI027-078003-). GPS survey by O'Driscoll in 2014. (Price 1949, 162-5 and 1967, 508; Condit 1992, 16-20) (CUCAP, AHK048-049; AYP032-034) The hillfort was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Contour fort surrounding all of Spinans Hill and enclosing the hillforts of Brusselstown Ring (Atlas No.0718) and Spinans Hill 1 (Atlas No.0726). Spinans Hill 2 is an extensive earthwork with a total site footprint of 131ha. This is the largest hillfort in Ireland and is one of nine hillforts comprising the Baltinglass hillfort cluster. Condit (1992, 19) has noted that there are a number of breaches to the north which he believes are original entrance features. Bersu noted a possible roadway to the hillfort at the south-west corner of Brusselstown Ring (in Corlett and Weaver 2002, 504). There are up to 250 hut structures within the interior. These may be associated with Brusselstown Ring. Condit (1992, 20; 1998, 20) has recorded a possible passage tomb cemetery within the interior of the contour fort. This may be associated with Spinans Hill 1. Another cairn and enclosure have been recorded within the large contour fort (Condit 1992, 20). The ramparts survive well at the N and NW where it comprises a double bank with an intervening ditch, 15m in total width. The SE section of Spinans Hill 2 integrates a large portion of the outer enclosing element of Brusselstown Ring. The SW section of the enclosing elements of Spinans Hill 2 have been destroyed. The monument was only recently discovered by Condit (1992). Monument survey by Condit in 1998. GPS survey by O'Driscoll in 2014. This large hillfort incorporates a number of townlands including; Brusselstown, Spinans Middle, Castlequater, Castlesallagh, Coolamaddra, Eadestown Hill, Moorstown, Spinans Hill and Ballyhubbock. Spinans Hill 2 surrounds two other hillforts; the univallate contour fort Spinans Hill 1 and the bivallate multiple enclosure of Brusselstown Ring. Approximately 250 possible hut structures are immediately outside of the inner enclosure of Brusselstown Ring and inside Spinans Hill 2. Condit (1992, 20; 1998, 20) has recorded a possible passage tomb cemetery within Spinans Hill 1 hillfort. Another cairn within Spinans Hill 2 is now under forestry. Fifty meters to the NE, a 17m diameter circular enclosure located on level ground between two natural mounds has been interpreted as a possible ritual monument (Condit 1992, 20).' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0727.html) 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: 7 February 2020