The sub-rectangular enclosure, measuring approximately 38 metres east to west and 30 metres north to south, shows up clearly from above as two closely spaced fosses, or defensive ditches, that would have once surrounded a central platform. These earthwork features, captured in historical aerial surveys (CUCAP, AJZ 2; GB89.B.15), represent the remains of what was likely a defended homestead dating from the medieval period.

Moated sites like this one were particularly common in Ireland between the 13th and 14th centuries, often built by Anglo-Norman settlers or prosperous farming families who needed both protection and a statement of status in the landscape. The double fosse arrangement suggests this was a substantial defensive work; the outer ditch would have been the first line of defence, whilst the inner one provided additional security. The water-filled ditches served multiple purposes: defence against raiders, drainage for the central platform, and even as a source of fish for the household.

Today, whilst the earthworks may be difficult to spot at ground level, from the air they tell a clear story of medieval life in Louth. The site joins hundreds of similar moated enclosures scattered across Ireland’s countryside, each one marking a place where families once lived, farmed, and defended their small corner of the medieval world. These archaeological features offer valuable insights into settlement patterns, social hierarchy, and the defensive concerns of medieval Ireland’s rural communities.