These rectangular earthwork enclosures, surrounded by water-filled ditches, were once home to timber-framed manor houses and their associated farm buildings. The moat at Ballyknock, like others scattered across the Irish countryside, served multiple purposes; it provided defence against raids, drainage for the enclosed area, and a ready source of water and fish for the household.

Archaeological evidence suggests that moated sites like Ballyknock were typically occupied by lesser nobility or wealthy tenant farmers who held their land from major Anglo-Norman lords. The construction of such sites peaked between 1250 and 1350, a period when the colony was expanding into previously unsettled areas. The rectangular platform within the moat would have supported not just the main residence but also barns, stables, and storage buildings, creating a self-contained farmstead that could withstand the uncertainties of medieval frontier life.

Today, the earthworks at Ballyknock stand as subtle reminders of this colonial period, their raised platforms and surrounding ditches still visible despite centuries of agricultural activity. While the timber buildings have long since vanished, these sites offer valuable insights into medieval settlement patterns, agricultural practices, and the complex relationship between native Irish and Anglo-Norman communities. The survival of place names like Ballyknock, combining Irish and English elements, further illustrates the cultural mixing that occurred in these rural manorial centres.