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Berginniss mount is a medieval motte located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This earthwork represents a characteristic form of Norman defensive architecture, consisting of an artificial or enhanced mound designed to support a timber palisade and tower. The monument sits upon bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks, mafic lava and tuff that underlie this part of Antrim, providing a solid geological foundation for the construction.
The motte would have served as a stronghold for a Norman lord or knight, offering commanding views of the surrounding landscape and defensive advantage through its elevated position. The mound's form allowed for efficient deployment of garrison troops and provided secure storage for provisions and valuables. Such structures became widespread across Ireland and Britain following the Norman Conquest period, as incoming lords established territorial control over newly conquered lands.
Berginniss mount is protected as a scheduled historic monument by the Historic Environment Division under reference 4306. This designation recognises its significance as evidence of medieval settlement patterns and military strategy in north-east Ulster. The site contributes to our understanding of how Norman expansion shaped the physical and political landscape of Ireland during the medieval period.
Berginniss mount, barginnis mount. motte is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 4306. View the official record →
Berginniss mount is a medieval motte located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 4306.
Berginniss mount, barginnis mount. motte dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Berginniss mount, barginnis mount. motte is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 4306.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bivallate rath - one of rath pair (c.f. 060 (3.8 km), Rath - one of rath pair (c.f. 060 (3.9 km), Pair of counterscarp raths (part of rath complex) (4.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Berginniss mount, barginnis mount. motte's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Berginniss mount, barginnis mount. motte stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.