Moated site, Bawn, Co. Cavan
In the townland of Bawn in County Cavan, a medieval moated site survives as a distinctive raised platform in the landscape.
Moated site, Bawn, Co. Cavan
This rectangular earthwork, measuring approximately 75 metres from north to south and 60 metres east to west, consists of a grass-covered raised area that would have once supported a timber hall or manor house. The site is enclosed by an impressive defensive system of two earthen banks with an intermediate fosse, or water-filled ditch, running between them.
The defensive earthworks remain most intact along the northern and eastern sides, where both the inner and outer banks can still be traced. Along the southern and western boundaries, modern field divisions have replaced the original outer bank, though the inner defences remain visible. A break in the inner bank halfway along the western side marks the original entrance to the site, complete with a causeway that would have allowed access across the defensive ditch. This entrance placement was typical of medieval moated sites, providing controlled access whilst maintaining defensive capabilities.
Moated sites like this one at Bawn were constructed across Ireland during the Anglo-Norman period, primarily between the 13th and 14th centuries. They served as fortified farmsteads for colonising settlers, offering protection for both the inhabitants and their agricultural surplus. The double bank system seen here represents a more elaborate defensive arrangement than many similar sites, suggesting this may have been home to a family of some local importance or wealth. Today, these earthworks stand as tangible reminders of medieval settlement patterns and the complex cultural landscape that emerged during the Anglo-Norman colonisation of Ireland.