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Curly's Fort is a raised rath or motte situated in the Ards peninsula of County Down, Northern Ireland. The monument consists of an uncertain mound that rises from underlying Gala Group wacke bedrock, a hard sedimentary stone formed during the Telychian period of the Silurian. This geological foundation provided a naturally defensible base for the artificial earthwork, which would have offered protection and commanding views across the local landscape.
The monument belongs to the tradition of Early Medieval Irish hill-forts, though its precise dating and original form remain unclear. Raths and mottes were common strongholds throughout this period, serving as residences and defensive positions for local lords and their households. The uncertain nature of Curly's Fort's mound suggests either degradation over time or the possibility of a smaller, more modest construction than some of its contemporaries.
The site is protected under the Historic Environment Division of Northern Ireland, listed under reference 6765, recognising its archaeological significance to the region's Early Medieval heritage. Its location within the Ards, an area historically important for settlement and territorial control, places the monument within a landscape of considerable historical interest and archaeological potential.
Curly's fort. raised rath or motte is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 6765. View the official record →
Curly's Fort is a raised rath or motte situated in the Ards peninsula of County Down, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 6765.
Curly's fort. raised rath or motte dates from the uncertain period, and is classified as a mound. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Curly's fort. raised rath or 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 6765.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Raised rath (3.9 km), Windmill (ihr 2922 (4.4 km), Rath (4.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Curly's fort. raised rath or 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.
Curly's fort. raised rath or motte stands on Gala Group, bedrock that formed in the Telychian. The rock here is wacke.