MEDIEVAL · MOTTE

Motte

Down, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 8529
Period
MEDIEVAL
Site type
MOTTE
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

Motte is a medieval motte-and-bailey fortification located in County Down, Northern Ireland. The site consists of an artificial earthen mound typical of Norman defensive architecture, dating to the medieval period following the Anglo-Norman settlement of Ireland in the late twelfth century. Such mottes served as temporary strongholds during the period of conquest and consolidation, providing defensive positions for Norman lords establishing their territorial control. The survival of the earthwork at Motte demonstrates the legacy of this significant phase of medieval military engineering in Ulster.

Motte is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 8529. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Motte?

Motte is a medieval motte-and-bailey fortification located in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 8529.

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 8529.

What other scheduled monuments are near Motte?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Lismahon. raised rath reused as motte (1.3 km), St. patrick's well, parkaneety graveyard, killyglinne. church, graveyard & holy well (2 km), Ballykinler. trench system (ww1)- dhp 307 (3.2 km).

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