Moated site, Hillcastle, Co. Wexford
Hillcastle in County Wexford contains the intriguing remains of what appears to be a medieval moated site, sitting on a broad, low hill that offers a commanding view of the surrounding countryside.
Moated site, Hillcastle, Co. Wexford
The main feature is a raised rectangular platform measuring approximately 42 metres north to south and 25 to 30 metres east to west, which directly adjoins the inner edge of a larger circular moated enclosure. This elevated area, now covered in mixed woodland, would have once been the heart of a medieval settlement or fortified homestead.
The platform itself is defined by substantial moats on its western and southern sides; the western moat spans 8 metres wide but is relatively shallow at 0.8 metres deep, whilst the southern moat is narrower at 6 metres wide but considerably deeper at 2.5 metres. These water-filled ditches would have served both defensive and drainage purposes, typical of medieval moated sites that were particularly common in Ireland during the 13th and 14th centuries. At the northeastern corner of the site, an overgrown mound rises 1.6 metres high with a diameter of 11 metres, likely composed of spoil excavated when the moats were originally dug.
The combination of a rectangular moated platform within or adjacent to a circular moated enclosure is relatively unusual and suggests this site may have had multiple phases of occupation or served different functions over time. Such moated sites were typically constructed by Anglo-Norman settlers or wealthy Gaelic families, providing security and status whilst managing agricultural estates. The woodland that now cloaks the site helps preserve these earthworks, which stand as a reminder of medieval life and landscape management in County Wexford.





