The Hill of Mael — Bigwood

Situated on the summit of a hill known locally as 'The Hill of Mael' with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside in all directions. Cashel standing inside a large possible trivallate hillfort (WM003-008001-) with two pre-1700 field walls (WM003-008002-) radiating out from the cashel. Small circular hilltop cashel consisting of a circular-shaped area (approx. diam. 16-18m) enclosed by a ruinous drystone wall (Wth 1.5m) set on a very low earthen bank with entrance feature (Wth 1.5m) at SE defined by the wall footings of two stone walls (L 19m) running parallel to each other forming an ‘avenue’ (Wth 7m) which connects the inner enclosure to a larger outer enclosing element. The larger enclosure (approx. diam. 60m E-W) is defined by a poorly preserved drystone wall standing on top of an earthen bank (overall Wth 6-8m). The stone facing of this wall has been robbed out from E-S, in other places the wall merges with the natural rock outcrop forming the enclosing element of the monument. A small cairn located inside the centre of the inner enclosure was probably constructed as a trigonometrical station marking the spot height of 795 ft. by the Ordnance Survey in 19th century. The cashel appears to be standing inside a multivallate hillfort the surface of which slopes gradually from N-S. The remains of two old field walls possibly of post-1700 date radiate out from the inner enclosure at NNE and NNW. The larger outer enclosing contours of the hillfort are clearly visible on Digital Globe aerial photograph taken November 2011 and on an aerial photograph taken in 1964 (CUCAP AJO061) (http://www.cambridgeairphotos.com/location/ajo061/). Recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; ‘Circular contour fort with a total site footprint of approximately 0.3ha positioned at the summit of The Hill of Mael with panoramic views from the summit and low-lying terrain to the W. Univallate for the entire circuit with no obvious entrance features recorded. A number of unrecorded features within the interior of the fort are visible in most aerial photographs. These comprise a central circular enclosure and two linear features leading SE from it to meet the enclosing elements of the contour fort. These are likely to be of archaeological significance and may be contemporary with the fort. The ramparts survive well throughout. The interior is under pasture. First map depiction in second edition Ordnance Survey mapping’ (https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/). See attached plan of cashel surveyed and drawn by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 23 November 2017