The rectangular enclosure, measuring 35 metres east to west and 25 metres north to south, was surrounded by water-filled moats between two and five metres wide, reaching depths of up to 2.2 metres. A leat, or artificial watercourse, fed water into the system at the northwest corner, whilst the original internal banks could still be traced along the eastern and southern edges where old field boundaries had preserved them.

The site revealed fascinating details about medieval life and construction techniques. Excavators recovered organic materials and locally-made pottery, including glazed wares, from the waterlogged moats. Perhaps most intriguingly, they discovered the oak timbers of a wooden bridge near the western end of the northern moat, at its widest point, which likely supported a wooden gatehouse. Though the timbers couldn’t be dated using tree rings, radiocarbon dating placed them between 1257 and 1386 AD, firmly establishing this as a medieval settlement. A metalled path ran from this bridge entrance to the southwest corner of the western section, suggesting careful planning of movement through the site.

The interior space was cleverly divided by a north-south channel, creating distinct eastern and western areas with different functions. The western section appeared to be accessed via the bridge and path system, whilst the eastern area showed clear signs of domestic or agricultural activity, with numerous pits, stake-holes, and the remains of sleeper or slot-trenches that would have supported timber buildings. This division of space, combined with the sophisticated water management system and defensive moats, paints a picture of a well-organised medieval farmstead or minor manor, typical of Anglo-Norman settlement patterns in medieval Ireland.