Souterrain in Togherstown

Situated on a terrace, on NNE-facing slope of Ushnagh Hill, in pasture, with excellent views to W, N and E. In W quadrant of ringfort (WM024-028----) are the remains of a rectangular-shaped house site (WM024-028002-) with a souterrain (WM024-028003-) located within this structure and a second souterrain excavated in 1929-30 (Macalister and Praeger 1929-31, 75-6). Listed by the excavators as the 'Lesser Souterrain' which was described as following; 'The lesser souterrain lies to the south of the souterrain [WM024-028003-] just described, and is entirely independent of it. The entrance is apparently at an almost megalithic trilithon, or at least a structure of which one side was formed by a large rounded boulder, apparently pressed into the service because it was too heavy to move; which stood on the southern side of the Inner Fosse, a little to the south of its outer edge. The space between the supports was about 2 feet [0.6m] wide and the same high; the lintel stone, which was partly displaced, measured 4 ft. [1.2m] by 2 ft. 5 ins. [0.73m] by 1 ft. [0.3m], and the supporting stone was of about the same order of magnitude. In and around this structure there were traces of large fires. This entrance gives access to an oval chamber, A, 17 ft, 2 ins. [5.2m] long and 5 ft. 2 ins. [1.57m] broad; the walls remain standing to a height of 4 ft. 6 ins. [1.37m]. This chamber runs through the inner fosse, and in order to build it the fosse must have been filled up to a depth of 3 feet [0.9m]. The fosse is here rather wider than usual - 8 ft. 7 ins. [2.6m] - and we reach its inner edge at about 1 foot [0.3m] before reaching the exit doorway of the chamber. At the exit doorway there is a neatly built sill of three stones, about 5 feet [1.5m] below the present surface of the ground. The exit of the chamber leads into a passage, B, 16 feet [4.87m] in length. This contracts to a narrow opening at 6 ft. [1.8m] from the entrance. Near the end, the passage contracts again to a width of 2 ft. 8 ins. [0.81m], where there are two jamb-stones, the one on the north about 2 feet [0.6m] cube, the other on the south 3 ft. [0.9m] high by 2 ft. 6 ins. [0.76m] by 2 ft. [0.6m]. At 3 feet [0.9m] from this point, and 33 ft. 2 ins. [10.1m] from the megalithic entrance, there is a doorway 1 ft. 8 ins. [0.5m] high by 1 ft. 10 ins. [0.55m] broad, with a sill rising 6 ins. [0.15m] high on the inner side. This doorway admits to those portions of the souterrain which are within the Inner Area. A passage, C, runs inward from it for a length of 16 ft [4.87m], 4 ft. 6 ins. [1.37m] high and a little over 3 ft. [0.9m] broad. It is very badly and irregularly constructed. The passage runs for the distance specified in a N.E. direction, and then turns through approximately a right angle. The second stretch of the passage, D, is 29 ft. [8.83m] in length. Owing to irregularities, fallen stones, and the low roof, it is troublesome to explore. The only feature of interest is a small cupboard-recess, E, on one side, about half way along its course. The passage ends in a blank wall; but on each side there is an entrance giving admission to a chamber. These chambers are the only passably good constructions in the souterrain. The left-hand doorway is 2 ft. 2 ins. [0.66m] high and 2 ft. [0.6m] broad, and is 3 ft. [0.9m] from front to back. The chamber, F, to which it leads is shapely, and built of fairly large stones; it is 14 ft. 6 ins. [4.4m] long and 5 ft [1.5m] in maximum breadth. At the inner end is a recess 1 ft. 8 ins. broad and 1 ft. 8 ins. [0.5m] high, and penetrating 2 ft. [0.6m] into the wall. It had no masonry back, and we found it convenient to cut through the clay behind it, thus making a second opening by which the chamber could be most easily entered. The opposite doorway on the right-hand side of the passage is smaller, and more difficult to pass through. It leads into a similar but smaller chamber, G. Both chambers, as usual, are roofed with large flag-stones'. See attached plan of the souterrain taken from Macalister and Praeger 1929-31. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 12 August 2019