E.CHRIST. · RATH

Rath

Banbridge, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 7100
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 Banbridge, County Down, is a small ringfort or enclosed homestead settlement of the early medieval period. The site consists of a circular or oval earthwork defined by a single bank and internal ditch, a form characteristic of Irish raths that typically date from the early Christian period, roughly the fifth to twelfth centuries. Such monuments served as defended domestic and agricultural enclosures for a single family or small community, and this example preserves the basic morphological features of this common settlement type. The rath represents an important category of archaeological evidence for understanding the organization of early medieval rural society in Ulster.

Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 7100. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Rath?

Rath, located in Banbridge, County Down, is a small ringfort or enclosed homestead settlement of the early medieval period. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 7100.

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 7100.

What other scheduled monuments are near Rath?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rath (1.7 km), Cromie's fort. rath (4.2 km), Rath (5 km).

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