E.CHRIST. · RATH

Rath

Derry, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 12536
Period
E.CHRIST.
Site type
RATH
Nation
Northern Ireland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

Rath, located in County Derry, Northern Ireland, is an Early Christian ecclesiastical site. The monument comprises the remains of a rath, or enclosed settlement, which served religious purposes during the early medieval period. Such sites are characteristic of Early Christian Ireland, where monastic and religious communities often occupied and adapted pre-existing ringfort structures for their spiritual and communal needs. The rath's defensive earthwork, consisting of an enclosing bank and ditch, would have provided both practical protection and symbolic demarcation of the sacred space within.

Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 12536. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Rath?

Rath, located in County Derry, Northern Ireland, is an Early Christian ecclesiastical site. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 12536.

What period does Rath date from?

Rath dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a rath. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Rath?

Rath 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 12536.

What other scheduled monuments are near Rath?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cross (2.5 km), Wedge tomb (3.3 km), Stone circle, cairns (2) & alignments (2), part of pre-bog landscape (5.4 km).

Aubrey Research

Generate a full report for this location

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in the UK — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.

Research the area around Rath