In 1775, the antiquarian Gabriel Beranger sketched this location, recording a large flat-topped mound surrounded by an outer ring and fosse; a defensive ditch that would have made the structure formidable in its day. The site was believed by historian Westropp to be the mote-castle of Almoric, the Norman lord who founded the prominent family line of Howth in the late 12th century.

The original motte and bailey castle would have been an imposing sight, typical of Norman defensive architecture brought to Ireland following the Anglo-Norman invasion. These earthwork fortifications consisted of a raised mound topped with a wooden or stone keep, surrounded by an enclosed courtyard and protective ditches. Such structures served as both military strongholds and symbols of Norman authority as they established control over their new Irish territories.

Today, little remains of Almoric’s medieval stronghold beyond the natural spur itself, which now supports a 19th-century Martello tower; one of many built along Ireland’s coast during the Napoleonic Wars. The transformation of this site from Norman motte to Georgian coastal defence reflects centuries of changing military technology and Ireland’s evolving strategic importance. While the earthworks that Beranger documented have largely disappeared, the location continues to command impressive views across Dublin Bay, explaining why it has been chosen for defensive purposes across multiple eras.