Moated site, Castlemiles, Co. Waterford
Situated on a broad plateau in Castlemiles, County Waterford, this medieval moated site represents a fascinating example of Anglo-Norman defensive architecture in Ireland.
Moated site, Castlemiles, Co. Waterford
The rectangular grass-covered enclosure measures approximately 42.5 metres east to west and 41 metres north to south, encompassed by an eroded earthen bank that varies between 6.5 and 8.5 metres in width. The bank stands between 0.1 and 0.6 metres high on its inner face, whilst its exterior drops between 0.4 and 0.8 metres, with notably raised corners at the northeast and northwest points.
The defensive features of the site are particularly well-preserved along the western and northern sides, where an outer fosse, or defensive ditch, still survives. This ditch spans 8 to 9 metres across at its top, narrowing to between 3 and 4.5 metres at its base, though centuries of erosion have reduced its depth to just 0.1 metres. Perhaps the most intriguing remnant is a stone wall along the inner face of the northern bank, stretching 4.5 metres from east to west and standing 1.5 metres high with a thickness of 1.25 metres. A recess on its northern side suggests this structure may have formed part of an original gateway, though some archaeologists propose it could be the remains of a later castle addition.
These moated sites were typically constructed during the 13th and 14th centuries as fortified farmsteads for Anglo-Norman settlers, serving both defensive and agricultural purposes. The Castlemiles example, documented in the Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford and subsequently revised by researcher Michael Moore in 2011, offers valuable insights into how medieval colonists adapted their defensive strategies to the Irish landscape, creating earthwork fortifications that could protect both residents and livestock whilst establishing their presence in the countryside.





