These defensive homesteads, typically dating from the 13th to 14th centuries, were built by Anglo-Norman colonists who needed fortified dwellings that offered protection without the expense of constructing a full castle. The site consists of a raised rectangular platform surrounded by a water-filled ditch, or moat, which would have originally supported a timber-framed hall and various outbuildings. The moat served multiple purposes; it provided defence against raids, drained the land for building, and supplied water for domestic use and livestock.

Archaeological evidence suggests this particular site was likely home to a prosperous farming family or minor lord who controlled the surrounding agricultural lands. The choice of location was strategic, positioned to oversee fertile fields whilst maintaining defensive advantages. During its occupation, the site would have been a hub of activity with craftspeople, farm workers, and traders coming and going through a single causeway that bridged the moat. The inhabitants would have lived in relative comfort for the period, with glazed windows, wooden floors, and perhaps even decorated plasterwork; luxuries that set them apart from the native Irish population living in more traditional dwellings nearby.

Today, the earthworks remain clearly visible in the landscape, though centuries of agricultural use have softened their edges. The moat, whilst no longer water-filled year-round, still collects water during wet weather, giving visitors a glimpse of how formidable these defences once appeared. These sites are particularly numerous in Kilkenny, which saw intensive Anglo-Norman settlement, and they tell the story of how medieval colonists adapted their defensive architecture to Irish conditions, creating a unique settlement type that bridges the gap between the grand stone castles of the nobility and the simpler dwellings of the common folk.