Moated site, Clonardran, Co. Meath
The moated site at Clonardran in County Meath presents a fascinating glimpse into medieval Irish settlement patterns.
Moated site, Clonardran, Co. Meath
This rectangular complex, measuring approximately 90 metres east to west and 80 metres north to south, sits slightly elevated above the surrounding landscape. The site is cleverly divided into three distinct rectangular enclosures by wide, water-filled ditches known as fosses, with a stream running along its southern boundary providing a natural water source for the defensive system.
Two of the enclosures are nearly identical in size, each spanning roughly 48 metres east to west and 25 metres north to south, whilst the third enclosure, which has been partially destroyed by road construction, originally occupied the eastern half of the site. These proportions suggest careful planning and deliberate architectural choices that would have served both defensive and domestic purposes during the medieval period.
One of the most intriguing features is a masonry structure on the western side of the north-western enclosure, measuring 9 by 10 metres, which appears to have been built directly across the fosse. Archaeological evidence suggests this substantial stone construction likely served as an entrance gateway, controlling access to the enclosure whilst maintaining the site’s defensive integrity. Such moated sites were typically constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries by Anglo-Norman settlers and wealthy Irish families, serving as fortified farmsteads that combined agricultural function with defensive necessity.





