Moated site, Simonstown, Co. Westmeath
The moated site at Simonstown occupies a commanding position on a southeast-facing slope, offering sweeping views across the surrounding Westmeath countryside.
Moated site, Simonstown, Co. Westmeath
From this elevated spot near the crest of a low rise, visitors can look out over a small valley to the east and southeast, whilst high ridges frame the southern horizon. The site forms part of a wider medieval landscape, with two ringforts located nearby; one roughly 170 metres to the northwest and another 195 metres to the east-southeast.
This rectangular earthwork, measuring approximately 41.5 metres from northeast to southwest and 35.5 metres from northwest to southeast, is defined by a substantial bank that still retains much of its original character. The bank features internal stone facing along its northern and southern sections, though time and agricultural activity have reduced portions of the northeastern and southeastern sides to mere scarps. Whilst no original entrance survives, the interior slopes gently towards the southeast and shows no obvious surface features. Modern additions include dry stone walls built against the outer face of the bank and field boundaries extending from the corners, features that have been documented on Ordnance Survey maps since 1837.
Historical cartography reveals an intriguing detail about the site’s past appearance. Whilst both the 1837 and 1913 Ordnance Survey maps depict it as rectangular, an estate map from 1776 shows a circular earthwork in this location, suggesting either significant alterations over time or differences in how surveyors interpreted the monument. Today, the tree-lined banks create a distinctive landmark in the pastoral landscape, clearly visible from aerial photography and serving as a tangible reminder of medieval settlement patterns in this part of Ireland.