The site is defined by an earthen bank that rises half a metre on the inside but presents a more formidable two-metre height to anyone approaching from outside. This bank isn’t just a simple mound of earth; its exterior face is reinforced with drystone walling, a construction technique that uses carefully fitted stones without mortar. Surrounding this defensive wall is a fosse, essentially a water-filled ditch that varies between four and six metres wide, creating an additional barrier between the enclosed space and the outside world.

The defensive nature of the site becomes even clearer when you consider its water features. A stream has been cleverly diverted to feed directly into the fosse, ensuring a constant water supply that would have made the ditch difficult to cross. The surrounding landscape remains marshy, which would have provided yet another layer of natural defence in medieval times. Archaeological evidence suggests there may have been an entrance on the eastern side, where a causeway appears to bridge the fosse, providing controlled access to the enclosure.

This type of fortified site, known as a moated site, was typically built by Anglo-Norman colonists or Gaelicised Norman families during the 13th and 14th centuries. They served as defended farmsteads for wealthy landowners, combining residential, agricultural, and defensive functions in one compact location. The Courtfoyle example shows all the classic features of these sites: the square plan, the combination of earthwork and stone defences, and the strategic use of water as both a defensive element and a status symbol.