Moated site, Hilltown, Co. Westmeath
Situated on a low east-west ridge in County Westmeath, this intriguing earthwork lies just 270 metres southwest of Hilltown House and castle.
Moated site, Hilltown, Co. Westmeath
The site consists of a roughly square enclosure, measuring about 32 metres north to south and 29 metres east to west, defined by a broad, low bank made of earth and stone. What makes this structure particularly interesting is the evidence of internal stone facing along the southern and eastern sides, suggesting a degree of sophistication in its construction. Despite careful examination, archaeologists haven’t been able to identify a clear entrance feature, which adds to the mystery of how the site was originally accessed and used.
The interior of the enclosure remains level and largely clear of vegetation, though it bears the marks of later agricultural activity in the form of cultivation ridges running northwest to southeast across the monument. These ridges indicate that the site was repurposed for farming at some point after its original use ceased. Along the southeastern edge of the bank, small piles of stone have accumulated against the outer edge; these are likely the result of field clearance activities from when the surrounding land was being prepared for agriculture.
Perhaps most curious is the site’s absence from historical records; it doesn’t appear on any edition of the Ordnance Survey 6-inch maps, suggesting it may have been forgotten or overlooked by the time systematic mapping began in Ireland. This omission raises questions about when the site fell out of use and local memory. The earthwork’s form and construction suggest it could be a moated site, a type of medieval settlement typically dating from the 13th to 14th centuries, though without excavation its exact date and function remain uncertain.