Scheduled MonumentsNorthern IrelandBallymenaMcquillan's castle. motte and bailey
MEDIEVAL · MOTTE & BAILEY

Mcquillan's castle. motte and bailey

Ballymena, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 2553
Period
MEDIEVAL
Site type
MOTTE & BAILEY
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR)

Overview

History & significance

McQuillan's Castle is a medieval motte and bailey situated near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The monument consists of an earthen mound with an associated bailey, typical of Norman and Anglo-Norman fortifications of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The site represents the castle of the McQuillan family, who held substantial lands in the Glens of Antrim and exercised power in the region during the medieval period. As a motte and bailey, it exemplifies the early form of castle construction that preceded the development of more elaborate stone fortifications, and it remains an important archaeological indicator of Norman settlement and feudal control in medieval Ulster.

Mcquillan's castle. motte and bailey is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 2553. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Mcquillan's castle. motte and bailey?

McQuillan's Castle is a medieval motte and bailey situated near Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 2553.

What period does Mcquillan's castle. motte and bailey date from?

Mcquillan's castle. motte and bailey dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte & bailey. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Mcquillan's castle. motte and bailey?

Mcquillan's castle. motte and bailey 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 2553.

What other scheduled monuments are near Mcquillan's castle. motte and bailey?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Church (0.5 km), Galgorm castle. c17th house & bawn (0.5 km), Megalithic tomb (1.8 km).

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