This moated enclosure, measuring 31 metres east to west and 26 metres north to south, first appeared on the 1839 Ordnance Survey map simply marked as a wooded area. By the time the 1940 edition was produced, surveyors had recognised it for what it truly was: a medieval moated site, likely dating from the Anglo-Norman period when such defensive homesteads dotted the Irish countryside.

The site’s most striking feature is its flat-bottomed moat, which still defines the rectangular platform despite centuries of neglect. At its northern edge, the moat stretches 7 metres wide and drops about 1.5 metres on the inside, whilst the external depth reaches approximately 2.5 metres. A causeway, 3 metres wide, provides access at the northeast corner; the same spot where medieval inhabitants would have crossed into their fortified dwelling. Surrounding the moat on all sides runs an outer bank, standing 1.7 metres high and spanning 4 to 5 metres in width, adding an extra layer of defence to this woodland fortress.

These moated sites were typically constructed by Anglo-Norman settlers or prosperous Irish families between the 13th and 14th centuries, serving as fortified farmsteads rather than true castles. The Borrmount example represents one of many such sites scattered across County Wexford, each telling the story of medieval Ireland’s complex social landscape where defence, status, and agricultural prosperity intersected. Today, the earthworks remain remarkably well-preserved beneath the woodland canopy, offering visitors a tangible connection to the medieval families who once called this modest fortification home.