Moated site, Griffinrath, Co. Kildare
In 1757, when John Rocque was commissioned by James, Earl of Kildare to create a series of estate maps, he marked something intriguing on his survey of Griffinrath townland: a 'moat field' containing a rectangular enclosure.
Moated site, Griffinrath, Co. Kildare
This same feature caught the attention of Ordnance Survey cartographers decades later, appearing on their 1838 six-inch map as a small, tree-covered rectangular enclosure. Today, this medieval moated site sits quietly in level pasture at the northern foot of a low ridge, where the land slopes gently towards a stream about 100 metres to the east.
The monument itself is modest but distinctive; a small rectangular area measuring roughly 18 metres north to south and 17 metres east to west. What defines this space is a shallow, waterlogged fosse or ditch that once served as its defensive boundary. The width of this ancient ditch varies considerably, from 1.7 metres along the southern edge to 3.2 metres on the northern side, though time has reduced its depth to a mere 10 to 30 centimetres. The interior remains level and featureless, offering few clues about what structures or activities once took place within these boundaries.
Sites like this one at Griffinrath represent a particular type of medieval settlement that was once common across Ireland, particularly in Anglo-Norman territories. These moated sites, typically dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, were often farmsteads or manor houses surrounded by water-filled ditches that provided both drainage and a degree of security. While grander castles and abbeys tend to capture more attention, these humble rectangular enclosures offer valuable insights into the daily lives of medieval settlers who carved out their existence in the Irish countryside.