This Norman earthwork castle, which would have dominated the landscape in its heyday, met its demise in the 1850s when progress came calling in the form of the Fethard to Clonmel road. The road construction carved through the eastern quarter of the monument, whilst a quarry operation removed the entire southwestern section, leaving little visible evidence of this once formidable defensive structure.

Today, visitors to the site will find a grass field that becomes wet and marshy at the base of the slope, with a limestone kiln sitting at the southwestern foot of the ridge. The quarry immediately to the south has created a roughly circular platform that slopes southwestward; this elevated area likely marks the original location of the motte. Historical Ordnance Survey maps from 1840 and 1906 show only the northwestern sector of the monument, suggesting it was already partially destroyed by the time these surveys were conducted.

According to local historian Barry’s 1977 account, this was indeed the site of Baptistgrange’s motte, a type of castle consisting of a raised earthwork topped with a wooden or stone keep, typical of Norman construction in Ireland during the 12th and 13th centuries. The sharp drop to the river valley below would have provided natural defence on one side, whilst the elevated position offered commanding views across the surrounding countryside; strategic advantages that made such sites ideal for asserting Norman control over newly conquered territories.