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Antrim Motte is a medieval defensive earthwork consisting of a raised mound crowned by a flattened summit, typical of Norman fortifications erected across the British Isles during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The motte rises from bedrock composed of Palaeogene extrusive rocks—ancient mafic lavas and tuffs—which form the underlying geology of the site. This volcanic foundation provided a stable base for construction, though the earthwork itself was built up from locally sourced soil and stone to create an imposing stronghold.
The motte's strategic prominence would have dominated the surrounding landscape, commanding views across the Antrim countryside. A palisaded timber fortification originally crowned the summit, whilst a ditch typically encircled the base to enhance defensive capability. Such mottes frequently functioned as the residential and administrative centres of Norman lordships in medieval Ulster.
The site is protected by the Historic Environment Division of Northern Ireland under statutory record 3544, ensuring its preservation as a significant heritage asset. Its survival intact allows modern study of medieval settlement patterns and feudal organisation in the region during the Norman period.
Motte is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 3544. View the official record →
Antrim Motte is a medieval defensive earthwork consisting of a raised mound crowned by a flattened summit, typical of Norman fortifications erected across the British Isles during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 3544.
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.
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 3544.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Killede, killelagh, dalnach?. church & bullaun (6.3 km), Rath (6.4 km), Mound - motte? (7.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of 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.
Motte stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.