E.CHRIST. · RATH

Rath

Lisburn, Northern Ireland
NISMR MonID 7127
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 in Lisburn, County Antrim, is a prehistoric earthwork monument consisting of a circular or sub-circular defensive enclosure formed by one or more banks and ditches. The site represents a settlement form typical of the Iron Age and early medieval periods in Ireland, when such raths served as fortified homesteads for farming families and their livestock. The physical remains at Lisburn preserve evidence of this important settlement tradition, which remained common across the Irish landscape from the later prehistoric period through the medieval centuries. As a scheduled monument within the Historic Environment record for Northern Ireland, the site contributes to understanding the settlement patterns and domestic organisation of early Irish society.

Rath is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 7127. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Rath?

Rath in Lisburn, County Antrim, is a prehistoric earthwork monument consisting of a circular or sub-circular defensive enclosure formed by one or more banks and ditches. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 7127.

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 7127.

What other scheduled monuments are near Rath?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cashel (3.1 km), Counterscarp rath (3.2 km), Rath (4.7 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