MEDIEVAL · MOTTE

Motte

Antrim, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 4475
Period
MEDIEVAL
Site type
MOTTE
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

Motte, Antrim is a medieval motte-and-bailey earthwork situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The monument consists of an artificial mound typical of Norman and post-Norman fortifications established in Ireland during the twelfth century and later medieval period. Such mottes served as defensive strongholds and administrative centres for Anglo-Norman settlers and their descendants, representing the military architecture of early feudal occupation in Ulster. The site's preservation as an upstanding earthwork provides material evidence for understanding the settlement patterns and defensive strategies employed during the medieval colonisation of Ireland.

Motte is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 4475. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Motte?

Motte, Antrim is a medieval motte-and-bailey earthwork situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 4475.

What period does Motte date from?

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.

Who is responsible for protecting Motte?

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 4475.

What other scheduled monuments are near Motte?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bivallate rath (3.4 km), Rath (3.9 km), Counterscarp rath (4.4 km).

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