Moated site, Kilmacot, Co. Wexford

Moated site, Kilmacot, Co. Wexford

Situated on a gentle north-facing slope in Kilmacot, County Wexford, this medieval moated site presents itself as a raised rectangular platform covered in grass.

Moated site, Kilmacot, Co. Wexford

The earthwork measures 47 metres from northwest to southeast and 45 metres from northeast to southwest, with its corners distinctively turned upward. The entire structure is surrounded by flat-bottomed moats, now overgrown with vegetation, that are approximately 6 to 7 metres wide. The internal depth of these defensive ditches reaches about 1.2 metres, whilst the external depth measures around 0.8 metres.

What makes this site particularly interesting is its water management system; a leat, or artificial watercourse, runs from the southern corner of the moated area and feeds into a small pond. This feature suggests the site’s builders had a sophisticated understanding of hydraulic engineering, likely using the water for both defensive purposes and practical daily needs. Such moated sites were typically constructed during the Anglo-Norman period in Ireland, serving as fortified homesteads for colonising families who needed protection whilst establishing their agricultural estates.



The site was documented by Barry in 1977 and later included in the Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford, published in 1996. These moated sites are relatively common in southeast Ireland, where Anglo-Norman settlement was particularly dense, and they offer valuable insights into medieval settlement patterns and the defensive strategies employed by colonists adapting to life in a new and sometimes hostile environment.

Rated 0 out of 5

Good to Know

Tags

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of IrishHistory.com
IrishHistory.com
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Moated site, Kilmacot, Co. Wexford. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 50 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Barry, T.B. 1977 Medieval moated sites of south-eastern Ireland. British Archaeological Reports, British Series 35. Oxford.
Kilmacot, Co. Wexford
52.4668698, -6.33021729
52.4668698,-6.33021729
Kilmacot 
Castle Features 

Related Places