Strongbows Entrenchment — Ramstown

Baginbun Head is a broad promontory (dims. c 400m ENE-WSW; c. 200m NNW-SSE; H c. 20m) with other promontories off it. Raymond le Gros encamped from May to August 1170 at a place called Dundunnolf, which was perhaps the name of the promontory fort (WX050-015001-) at the E end of the headland, and Orpen (1898) identified this as being at Baginbun Head. Raymond would then have erected the fortifications which run ENE-WSW across the headland enclosing c. 22 acres (c. 9 ha) in preparation for a large invading force. While waiting for the arrival of Strongbow he defeated a large force sent against him here from Waterford (Redmond 1900, 32-50; Orpen 1904, 430-1; 1904a), but O’Conor (2003, 24-5) suggests that this conflict occurred around the re-fortified promontory fort (WX050-015001-). The fortification consists of an overgrown earthen bank (L c. 240m; Wth 5m; int. H 1.6m; ext. H 2.2m) with a berm or slight fosse (Wth 5m) separating it from an outer, scrub-covered bank (Wth 6m; ext. H 2.2m; int. H 2.7m). The entrances at the E and W ends are probably modern and would certainly have been widened. The promontory fort (WX050-015001-) is attached to the E end of the headland and is within the area enclosed by the linear earthworks. A feature described as ‘Strongbow’s Cap’ (WX050-015003-) is within the headland, but a stone known as the 'Baginbun stone' (WX050-015004-) was found on a cliff-top c. 340m N of the linear earthworks (Orpen 1904, 261-70). It is now removed to a nearby house (WX050-018----). Archaeological testing (E004144) by Martin Byrne in 2010 immediately N of the W end of the earthwork produced no related material (See: excavations.ie 2011: 629). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 12 February 2014 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 192/1952).