Moated site, Milltown More, Co. Tipperary South
In the quiet pastures of Milltown More in County Tipperary South, the faint traces of a rectangular enclosure mark where a medieval settlement once stood.
Moated site, Milltown More, Co. Tipperary South
This earthwork monument, measuring approximately 36 metres north to south and 28 metres east to west, sits adjacent to a moated site and reveals itself through subtle changes in the landscape. The defining feature is a levelled scarp, essentially an earthen bank about 4 metres wide and up to 0.4 metres high, which forms the perimeter of the site. The southern, western and northern sides are the best preserved, whilst the eastern boundary blends almost imperceptibly into the natural westward slope of the field.
Field inspection carried out in April 2007 documented these remains, noting how the scarps vary in preservation around the site. The southern section stretches for 26 metres, the western side runs the full 36 metres, and the northern boundary extends for 28 metres. The eastern side, though spanning 38 metres, stands only about 0.2 metres high and requires a keen eye to spot against the hillside. Running north to south across the field to the east, a ridge feature connects this enclosure to the nearby moated site, suggesting these two monuments may have functioned as part of a larger medieval complex.
Such earthwork enclosures are typical of medieval Irish settlements, where raised banks would have supported timber palisades or hedges to define property boundaries and provide security for inhabitants. The proximity to a moated site; a high-status medieval residence surrounded by a water-filled ditch; indicates this may have been an associated structure, perhaps housing for workers, storage facilities, or agricultural buildings that supported the main residence. Though time and agriculture have softened its edges, this humble rectangle of earth continues to mark the spot where medieval life once thrived in the Tipperary countryside.





