This substantial fortification, which appeared as a large square enclosure on early 20th century maps, measured roughly 100 by 100 metres at its greatest extent. The site featured an earthen bank reinforced with stone facing and was surrounded by a deep, wide fosse; essentially a water-filled defensive ditch that was fed by a nearby stream.

Historical records paint a picture of what this site once looked like. The 1909 Ordnance Survey map shows the enclosure clearly, whilst the first edition six-inch map indicates a large house positioned towards the eastern side of the compound, marked intriguingly as ‘Site of a Building’. The antiquarian Price, writing in 1936, documented the impressive defensive earthworks that were still visible at that time, noting particularly the combination of earth and stone construction that made these fortifications so formidable.

Unfortunately, this important piece of medieval heritage met its end in 1971 when it was destroyed, leaving only historical records and memories of what once stood here. The significance of the site wasn’t lost on authorities; it had been subject to a preservation order since 1940 under the National Monuments Acts, though this protection ultimately couldn’t save it from destruction. Today, those interested in Ireland’s medieval past must rely on archaeological surveys and old maps to understand the defensive strategies and settlement patterns of our ancestors in County Wicklow.