Raystown

57 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Raystown, from 29 m² to 371,215 m² (37.12 ha, 91.73 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 25 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

• P5RA - Rural Area (Mixed/general primary sector uses, including 'rural')
  Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, Meath · 64 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• C2.1E2 - General Enterprise and Employment (Industrial, enterprise, employment)
  Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, Meath · 15 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• G1F1 - Open Space (Open space, park)
  Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, Meath · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
• R2A1 - Existing Residential (Existing residential)
  Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, Meath · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 29 Aug 2024Refused

  the development consists of and will consist of the following: Retention Permission for: 1) the placement of 10no metal containers on existing commercial yard for use as self-storage containers 2) ancillary site works. Planning Permission for: 1) to place an additional 32no containers on site for self-storage use in addition to the existing on-site containers 2) to use existing parking spaces on site to facilitate customers using the containers 3) close up an existing entrance from the site onto the R125 road 4) reposition the gates and entrance at the rear of the site 5) all ancillary site works

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2460687

• 10 Jan 2024Conditional

  Construction of a road with footpath, bicycle lane, lighting, and, all associated site works, to access and service the lands zoned E2 – General Enterprise and Employment.

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2460017

• 20 Dec 2023N/a

  construction of roads and services only to provide access from R125 (Ashbourne Road) into site at east side of Ratoath, lands zoned E2 General Enterprise and Employment. Works will include a new road designed per DMURS. Surface water design proposal has been developed incorporating SuDS methods. Pedestiran and cycling facilities will be provided, connecting back to existing facilities at newly constructed Ratoath Outer Relief Road

  Permission · Meath County Council, 2360494

• 14 Mar 2023Conditional

  (1) demolition of existing detached shed and existing rear extension to existing cottage, (2) construction of a rear extension to existing cottage, (3) conversion of existing cottage to a family flat, (4) modified entrance driveway as per Reg. Ref. RA/180986, (5) a new detached double garage to the rear of the site, (6) replacement of existing septic tank with a new WWTS and percolation area

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 23267

• 24 Feb 2023N/a

  a two storey rear extension to existing cottage and converstion of existing cottage to a family flat. Modified entrance driveway as per Reg. Ref. RA/140680, a new detached double garage and replacement of existing septic tank with a new WWTS and percolation area

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 23196

• 17 Nov 2021Conditional

  the development will consist of (1) additions and alterations to the existing dwelling house to include construction of (a) a two-storey pitched roof extension to rear (b) a single-storey flat roof extension to rear (c) a first floor pitched roof extension to side and (d) a single-storey flat roof extension to front in place of the existing colonnade with increased depth of existing overhead first floor balcony and (2) all associated site, drainage and structural works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 212188

• 26 Oct 2021Refused

  the construction of a detached one and half storey house, detached garage, wastewater treatment system, new entrance onto the R125 and all associated site works

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 212065

• 21 May 2021Conditional

  demolition of an existing warehouse/light industrial building 1.577m2, 9.49m high currently in use as a depot for a HGV haulage firm & demolition of 11.8 m2, 2.75m high weighbridge building & removal of weighbridge plus removal of existing septic tank and percolation area to the rear of the site currently in the undeveloped portion. The new development will consist of a warehousing/light industrial unit (total floor area 5,585m2) on an 8 acre site as follows: 4.392m2 warehouse/light industrial area for storage and maintenance of plant & equipment (mainly forklift trucks and other materials handling equipment), 348m2 ancillary workshop, 98m2 trade counter area, 438m2 ancillary office and accommodation on 2 floors & 309m2 staff facilities. Provision of 379m2 external plant display area to front of yard for occasional display purposes within the site. Widening existing site access from 6.5m to 12m to the R125 Ashbourne Road to facilitate ease of site access and egress. Ancillary van and car parking, cycle parking & electric vehicle charging. Washbay for plant/equipment within rear yard. Ancillary yard for access/egress marshalling. External storage of plant & equipment 5,211m2 within external yard. Provision of a new wastewater treatment system and infiltration area with ecoflow coco nut tertiary treatment filter. Site boundary treatments including fencing, landscaping/planting & paving. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission · Meath County Council, 21969

• 18 May 2021N/a

  demolition of an existing warehouse/light industrial building 1.577m2, 9.49m high currently in use as a depot for a HGV haulage firm & demolition of 11.8 m2, 2.75m high weighbridge building & removal of weighbridge plus removal of existing septic tank and percolation area to the rear of the site currently in the undeveloped portion. The new development will consist of a warehousing/light industrial unit (total floor area 5,585m2) on an 8 acre site as follows: 4.392m2 warehouse/light industrial area for storage and maintenance of plant & equipment (mainly forklift trucks and other materials handling equipment), 348m2 ancillary workshop, 98m2 trade counter area, 438m2 ancillary office and accommodation on 2 floors & 309m2 staff facilities. Provision of 379m2 external plant display area to front of yard for occasional display purposes within the site. Widening existing site access from 6.5m to 12m to the R125 Ashbourne Road to facilitate ease of site access and egress. Ancillary van and car parking, cycle parking & electric vehicle charging. Washbay for plant/equipment within rear yard. Ancillary yard for access/egress marshalling. External storage of plant & equipment 5,211m2 within external yard. Site boundary treatments including fencing, landscaping/planting & paving

  Permission · Meath County Council, 21947

• 14 Apr 2021Conditional

  a detached storey and a half type dwelling, a detached domestic garage, a wastewater disposal system, use of existing family home entrance and all associated site works and services

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, 21692

• 30 Nov 2020Conditional

  development consists of elevational changes including wall finishes, removal of a chimney and roof modifications including all ancillary site works, to the house previously granted permission under reference RA180322.

  Retention, 1 home · Meath County Council, RA201827

• 26 Mar 2020Conditional

  the works will include (a) provide new class 1 interceptor, (b) provide 0.425ha of concrete yard for open storage of motor vehicles and associated site works. The existing ELV Facility operates under Waste Facility Permit No WFP/MH/14/002/01. The development was previously granted under Planning Application Reference RA/160988. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission · Meath County Council, AA200416

• 13 Mar 2020N/a

  the works will include (a) provide new class 1 interceptor, (b) provide 0.425ha of concrete yard for open storage of motor vehicles and associated site works. The existing ELV Facility oprates under Waste Facility Permit No WFP/MH/14002/01. The development was previously granted under Planning Application Reference RA160988

  Permission · Meath County Council, AA200344

• 29 Aug 2018Conditional

  the development consists of revisions to that previously granted planning under register Ref. No: RA140680, being change of house type, and revised position of storey & a half house, detached domestic garage, proprietary effluent treatment system & percolation area, close up existing family entrance & open new double entrance to serve proposed dwelling and adjacent family home and all ancillary works

  Permission, 2 homes · Meath County Council, RA180986

• 3 Apr 2018Conditional

  detached dwelling house with roadside entrance, waste water treatment plant, soil polishing filter and all associated siteworks and drainage. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application

  Permission, 1 home · Meath County Council, RA180322

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Raystown.

Recorded monuments

• ME045-036 Burial ground
  Description

  Located on a low N-S ridge with poorly drained ground at the base of the W-facing slope and a small canalised S-N tributary of the Broad Meadow River at the base of the E-facing slope c. 70m distant. A gradiometer survey (02R0051) by GSB identified a complex of archaeological features at Site 21 on the route of a proposed N2 road and bypass of Ashbourne. The features extend far outside the road-take especially to the W and cover a large area (dims c. 200m N-S; c. 200m E-W). Archaeological testing (03E1229) by C. Cotter confirmed the presence of large enclosures, a burial ground and souterrains (excavations.ie 2003:1459). Excavation within the road-take was undertaken by S. Halliday between October 2003 and January 2004 under the original licence (excacvations.ie 2003:1460), after which the work, covering a large area (dims c. 160m n-s; c. 60m E-W) was completed by M. Seaver under the same licence by January 2005 (excavations.ie 2004:1334). SUMMARY: While some later prehistoric features associated with iron-working (ME045-036001-) were recorded the bulk of the material relates to a burial ground and industrial activity of the Early Middle Ages, spanning the period 380-1160 cal. AD as provided by radiocarbon determinations. The excavated area was divided into four descriptive areas, each generally dominated by particular activities, and five main temporal phases with two sub-phases were identified in the stratigraphic development of this complex, although not all phases might be relevant to each area and there is a certain amount of overlap between the phases. Phase 1: 340-600 cal. AD Phase 2: 500-700 cal. AD Phase 3: 600-800 cal. AD Phase 4: 700-900 cal. AD Phase 5: 900-1150 cal. AD In broad outline, the excavation recorded, or partially uncovered, a central burial ground that outgrew its original enclosure (diam. 27m) (Phase 1) and was provided with an outer circular enclosure (diam. c. 54m) (Phase 2) that was soon turned into a D-shaped one by straightening the perimeter at N (dim. c. 46m N-S). There was some habitation associated with a metaled surface, a possible structure, and two souterrains (Phase 3) N of the foreshortened larger enclosure. Two corn-drying kilns were also excavated, together with evidence of metalworking. A large subrectangular enclosure (dims 55m N-S; c. 50m E-W) (Phase 3) defined by ditches and with an entrance on the E side surrounded all these features. Its ditches were re-cut at least once and it was provided with a later entrance at the NE angle. The rectangular enclosure became the centre of a field system which consists of a number of N-S and E-W gullies that were re-cut many times and run into a large NW-SE gully at S. South of the rectangular enclosure habitation is indicated by a number of hearths and metaled surfaces in an area that was deeply truncated by later gullies. In this area also were two corn-drying kilns, conveniently close to the S complex of water-mills (Phases 3-5). There are three areas with watermills, and the final mills are probably the last events at each location (Phase 5). Although oak timbers were present at most of the mills, short sequences of rings mean they are unsuitable for dendrochronology dating. At the N two mill-races approaching from NW and W feed the mill undercrofts with millhouses overhead, and the tail-races extend E towards the S-N stream. A central mill-race extended W-E (L c. 30m) before dropping in level suddenly to a robbed out millhouse and undercroft. At the S end of the complex five millhouse undercrofts can be identified utilising a number of head and tail-races and bypass channels, but the final mill had an adjacent millpond. (Seaver 2009) BURIAL GROUND Phase I: 340-600 cal. AD. A circular ring-ditch (int. diam. 27m N-S) defined by a narrow fosse (Wth 1-1.4m; D 0.4-0.46m) was established. No bank or entrance was apparent although an entrance at SW outside the excavated area is suggested by the gradiometer survey. A dump of hearth material, with E-ware and charred barley, at SE provides a C14 date of 410-560 cal. AD. The enclosure was used for inhumations, all roughly aligned W-E, the heads at W sometimes being supported by pillow stones. There are few grave-goods, although artefacts were plentiful in the fosse and in the topsoil. The earliest date from a burial is 340-435 cal. AD and one burial cutting the ditch fill is dated 430-610 cal. AD. Burial within the enclosure continued for over 500 years, and of the dated inhumations nine are assigned to Phase 1, seven to Phase 2, three to Phase 3 and two to Phase 4. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 25-7) The outer enclosure (int. diam. c. 47m) was established in Phase 2 (500-700 AD), and its defining fosse (Wth c. 1m; D 0.1m) was concentric with the inner enclosure. A rim fragment of a glass vessel dating from the fifth to seventh centuries was in the topsoil over it, but the N part of the ditch was re-cut may times and contained plenty of animal bones that provide a C14 date of 650-780 cal. AD. The first burials outside the inner enclosure date to this period. The enclosure was foreshortened on the N side by the provision of a new fosse (Wth 2.2m; D 0.7m) c. 5m inside the old line, which produced artefacts, including a bone comb. (ibid. 31-33) In total ninety three supine inhumations were recovered from all phases of the burial ground, as well as a large quantity of disarticulated remains. The inhumations are generally extended W-E with the heads at the W, and the heads are supported by small stones in only three instances. Most were within the inner enclosure, but burial was extending in lines S and E into the outer enclosure. However, although very little of the outer enclosure is used for burial, it was not utilised for any other purpose. Adult women and men were equally represented, but neo-natal remains were hardly present and there was a greater representation of juveniles in the S group in the outer enclosure. There was no evidence of grave-markers and only two of the graves might have been stone-lined. Seventy three were within the inner enclosure and burials were densest at the centre where there was frequent intercutting and a charnel pit. (ibid. 35-7) See the attached plans from Seaver (2009, vol. 2): _1 Geohphysical evidence (fig. 9) _2 Phase 1 (fig. 19) _3 The burials (fig. 12) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036001 Metalworking site
  Description

  While the bulk of the material from a complex excavation (03E1229) relates to a burial ground and industrial activity of the early medieval period, some later prehistoric features were recorded, particularly on the lower E-facing slope where a narrow NW-SE gully (L 15.6m; Wth 1.05m; D 0.6m) turned sharply SW (L 35.4m; Wth 2.1m; D 0.68m) at its S end. Two bowl furnaces (diam. 1.05m x 0.96m; D 0.29m: diam. 1.1m x 1.04m; D0.35m) are at its edge, one cutting into its fill. The furnaces have flues extending to the NW, are associated with a metaled surface, and provide C14 dates of 400-220 cal. BC and 356-54 cal. BC. The gullies are cut through colluvial hillwash deposits and at one point the NE-SW gully cuts a metaled surface. The gullies are filled with waterlogged marls and were sealed by hillwash. Further W some metaled surfaces (dims 5.5m x 2.5m; 2.5m x 1.3m) are probably associated. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 22-5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 20 December 2021

• ME045-036002 Habitation site
  Description

  A metaled surface (dims c. 20m E-W; c. 12m N-S) may have been laid down at the same time as the inner enclosure of the burial ground was established but well outside it to the N with no features beneath it. In Phase 2 some habitation occurred in this area represented by postholes, gullies, metaled surfaces and a dense concentration of artefacts and animal bones, as well as two souterrains (ME045-036005-; ME045-036006-). However, no house can be identified, although the metaled surface surrounds much of the S and W sides a subcircular area (dims c. 9m x c. 8m) with postholes, which do not form a coherent pattern but may represent a hut-site. In Phase 3 an outshot of the D-shaped enclosure enclosed this area with large ditches that did not join at the right-angled corners. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 37-41, 45-8, 84) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036003 Habitation site
  Description

  An area outside the outer enclosure of the burial ground at S was left outside the rectangular enclosure of Phase 3 but gullies on its perimeter ensured that it would remain dry. Habitation is indicted by the gullies, pits and hearths. The pits (max. dims 2.5m x 1.7m; D 0.5m) contained deposits of ash and a sample of oats yielded a C14 date of 660-870 cal. AD. Up to four hearths were recognised and four smaller pits, but only one posthole was present together with some metaled surfaces. Many of the features were truncated by the central millrace and were either directly beneath ploughsoil or some hillwash soils, which are the result of soilcreep from the top of the ridge. However, it might also have had some habitation during Phase 2. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 49-50, 66-67, 75-7) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036004 Kiln - corn-drying
  Description

  A kiln in the lower N area belongs to Phase 1. It is a truncated feature (dims 2.7m x 1m; D 0.3m) with a scorched base that was cut by gullies of Phase 1. A cereal grain from it was dated to 430-540 cal. AD. A second figure-of-eight kiln (dims 1.28m x 1.04m; D 0.68m) with a scorched base that was c. 20m S of the inner burial ground and had been dug out to house a slightly flexed inhumation. Cereal grain from the kiln produced a C14 date of 380-550 cal. AD, while the burial yielded a determination of 410-570 cal. AD. The burial was cut by the outer fosse of the burial ground. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 28-9) Two figure-of-eight kilns from Phase 2 are located c. 7-12m E of the outer burial ground enclosure. Both are aligned N-S and have oxidized bases, but while one (dims 2.35m x 1.3m; D 0.87m) is isolated and cut into the subsoil the other (dims 2.34m x 1.16m; D 0.3m) is cut by a drain from the fields related to a re-shaping of the outer enclosure of the burial ground. (ibid. 48) Some hooked gullies c. 40m S of the outer enclosure of the burial ground drained into the mill-races of the southern mill complex and may have been created in order to keep the ground dry in the vicinity of two cereal-drying kilns. The gullies hook around areas with no structures, which may have been where grain was temporarily stored. One kiln is a standard figure-of-eight (dims 2.13m N-S; 0.82-1.19m E-W; D 0.25-0.35m) with a heavily scorched N bowl, while the other kiln is larger (dims 2.7m NW-SE; 1.54-1.6 NE-SW; D 0.62-0.65m) but of the same form with a more densely oxidized NW bowl. A cereal from this kiln yielded a C14 date of 530-650 cal. AD. (ibid. 53-5) A final kiln just outside the outer enclosure of the burial ground at NE had an L-shaped plan and had at least two phases of use. An E-W heavily scorched bowl (dims 1.35m x 1.1m; max. D 0.38m) has a later stone-lining. A shallow flue (L 0.52m) connects this with an oval bowl (dims 0.84m x 0.5m) to the S. Oak charcoal in a late fill produced a C14 date of 770-980 cal. AD. A scorched pit (diam. 0.9m; D 0.18m) in the N area that produced a C14 date of 650-830 cal. AD may have provided charcoal for this kiln. (ibid. 84) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036005 Souterrain
  Description

  An earthcut souterrain with a wooden superstructure was built in Phase 2, cutting through some of the gullies of that phase in the N habitation area. The passage was entered at E (Wth 1.3m; H 0.93m) and turned N immediately (L 5.94m) past two pairs of opposed post-holes to an expanded elbow joint (dims 2.1m E-W; 0.9m N-S) with four post-holes. At this point the passage turned W (Wth 1.44m; L 5.8m) where there were four pairs of opposed post-holes and a single post-hole set into the side of the passage at S. At the W end the passage curved N (Wth 1.28m; L 3.75m) and there was a single pair of post-holes before it entered a circular chamber (diam. of base 3.5m) that had seven post-holes around its edge, including a pair at the entrance from the passage. The floor sloped down slightly (0.2m) from the outer entrance to the chamber. The outer leg of the entrance passage was later lined in stone, which obscured the original post-holes. A cereal grain from one of its post-holes provided a C14 date of 530-650 cal. AD. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 41-5) See the attached plans from Seaver (2009, vol. 2): _1 Phase 2 (fig. 26) _2 plan of souterrains (fig. 62) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036006 Field system
  Description

  Two major NW-SE field boundaries marked by drains S of the burial ground were established in Phase 2. They are placed c. 20-25m apart and both were frequently re-cut. With some N-S gullies feeding into them they created an area (dim. 20m N-S) N of the outer enclosure of the burial ground where numerous hearths testify to habitation (ME045-036002-), although no houses are recognised. Other NW-SE drains S of the burial ground are similarly spaced and undoubtedly related. Further drains on the same alignment and with similar spacing and cross-drains were being added up to Phase 4 (700-900 AD) but the burial ground was never traversed by these features. In Phases 3-4 the major drains are truncated by the mill-races of the southern mills. The drains are filled generally with deposits containing a high proportion of redeposited natural, which suggests that it derived from accompanying earthen banks. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 51-3, 64-5, 96) See the attached pan from Seaver (2009, vol. 2) _1 Geophysical evidence (fig. 9) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036007 Enclosure
  Description

  The extended burial ground and N habitation area were transformed in Phase 3 by being enclosed within a D-shaped enclosure (dims c. 60m N-S; c. 60m E-W) defined by a single ditch (Wth 2.3m; D 1m). At SE this ditch connects with a major NW-SE boundary ditch and many lesser gullies that had originated at this point on the outer enclosure ditch of the burial ground, although at S the new fosse veers N of the older fosse. A narrow opening in the E run of this fosse is more like a gap between two sections of the fosse than a designed entrance. There was a lot of burnt grain and kiln waste in this ditch and grain from its basal fill and animal bone from the topmost layers produce almost identical dates of 650-780 cal. AD and 650-810 cal. AD respectively, indicating a short period of use. A stone-built souterrain (ME045-036036-) snuggling against the earth-cut one is almost the only feature that can be directly associated with this enclosure. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 34, 57-61) See the attached plan from Seaver (2009, vol. 2) _1 Phase 3 (fig. 23) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036008 Souterrain
  Description

  A stone-built souterrain, nestling against the S side of the earth-cut souterrain (ME045-036004-), was constructed during Phase 3, and the lining of the entrance passage to the older souterrain with stone may have been accomplished at the same time. The stone-built souterrain was entered through a drop-entrance at the S end, and this was visible as a small oval pit (dims 2.1m x 1.5m; D 0.18m) from which the passage (Wth 0.9m) extended NW (L 8.5m), but the first 3.5m of the NE wall and 1.5m of the SW wall had been robbed of stone. At the W end the passage turns N (L 2.6m) and narrowed to a creep (Wth 0.6m; H 0.6-0.9m) at the entrance to a rectangular chamber (max. dims 5.1m WNW-ESE; 2.4m NNE-SSW; surviving H 1-1.2m). The passage entered at the E end of the S chamber wall, with a slight step down to the chamber floor. There is a stone-framed entrance (Wth 0.7m; H 0.75m) to an earth-cut ramp at the W end of the N wall. The souterrain passage sloped down (H 0.74m) from the entrance to the chamber. The floor of the chamber had a covering of sandy silt and clay but the collapsed stone from the roof filled most of it. The chamber walls were doubled at places to support the corbelled roof, and a grain sample from the fill of the original construction trench yielded a C14 date of 640-770 cal. AD. The earthcut ramp (L 4.12m; Wth 0.83-0.86m) at the W end of the N wall is cut by the mill-race of Northern mill 2, but it is thought that the ramp is a construction feature which was closed with redeposited natural that spilled into the chamber. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 61-3) See the attached plans from Seaver (2009, vol. 2) _1 Phase 3 (fig. 23) _2 Plan of souterrain (fig. 62, N at L) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036009 Water mill - horizontal-wheeled
  Description

  There were two mills on the N side of the burial ground. Northern mill 1 consisted of a headrace (L 12m; Wth 1.4m; D 0.66m) approaching from the NW (L 120m plus), and a deeper mill undercroft (dims 11.8m x 3.2-6.5m; D 0.5-1m) that merges into the tailrace. A charcoal sample from the bottom of the tailrace produced a C14 date of 870-1020 cal. AD (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 85-7). Ten postholes set in hill-washed soils in a confined area (dims 7m NW-SE; 3m NE-SW) in Phase 3 are just S of the Northern mill 1 and may have played a role in relation to it but the form of the structure is uncertain. (ibid. 66, 85-7) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036010 Water mill - horizontal-wheeled
  Description

  The headrace for this mill from Phase 4-5, Northern mill 2, cuts the N boundary of the rectangular enclosure of Phase 3 (ME045-036007-) and also cuts both the construction ramp of souterrain 2 (ME045-036008-) and the headrace of Northern mill 1. It consists of a W-E headrace (excavated L 46.8m; Wth 2.65m; D 0.5m) that broadens into a millpond (L c. 11m; Wth 7.6m; D 0.5-0.75m), and the mill undercroft (dims 6.8m x 3.6m; max. D 1.44m) with straight sides. The fill of the millpond included a layer of burnt clay, oak charcoal and charred roundwoods which is interpreted as the remains of a wooden fence that had burnt and collapsed into the pond about half way through its silting. Charcoal from this produced a C14 date of 1020-1170 cal. AD, which is supported by a stick-pin with a zoomorphic head dated to c. 1080-1120 that was found in the lower fill of the pond. Two channels for flumes spanned the junction between the pond and the undercroft. The pit of the undercroft contained the base-plates (int. dims c. 3.4m E-W; c. 2.1m N-S) of the mill superstructure, connected by lap-joints and with stone walling in place above them at N and S. The W beam had a notch to retain the flume and an ash plank inside it has notches for the bridge-sole timber which would have supported the horizontal millwheel, of which there was no trace. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 87-92) See the attached plan from Seaver (2009, vol. 2, fig. 96) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 21 December 2021

• ME045-036011 Water mill - horizontal-wheeled
  Description

  The central mill is perhaps the last structure to have been constructed and marks Phase 5, as its headrace (Wth 2.2-4.5m; D 0.45-1.45m) cuts through features associated with the habitation S of the burial ground (ME045-036003-) and all the major boundaries (ME045-036006-) and features in this area. The source of this headrace could be c. 20m W of the excavation limit, and its E end must have been an elevated wooden channel/flume as a stratigraphic gap (L c. 12m) intervenes before the stone-built undercroft. The undercroft pit (dims 5.45m E-W; 3.35m N-S; max. D 1.15m) has a large ramp notch (dims 1.25-1.65m E-W; 0.9m N-S; D 0.42-0.9m) in its W edge to support the flume sloping steeply downwards at this point. The undercroft was retained by stone walls at N and S, and the interior was filled with the collapse of these walls. Any timbers from this mill structure had been removed before its complete abandonment, and a single sherd of Dublin Ware, dating from the late twelfth/thirteenth century, was recovered from its upper fill. The undercroft merges easily with the tailrace, which narrows slightly and does not have stonework. (Seaver 2009, 92-96) Sporadic activity from Phase 5 occurs in other areas, including at least one burial. Some gullies and hearths are being utilised S of the silted ditches of the burial ground and metaled surfaces created overlying major field boundaries and ditches from the rectangular enclosure of Phase 3. One hearth contained cereals with dates of 890-1000 cal. AD and 955-990 cal. AD as well as a rotary quern. (ibid. 96-98) See the attached plan from Seaver (2009, vol. 2, fig. 102) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036012 Water mill - horizontal-wheeled
  Description

  Southern mills 1 and 4 are dated to Phase 3 and were fed by four mill-races of Phase 3 or earlier, from two watercourses. One watercourse ran S and E (L 119m) from a possible pond in low wet ground to the W of the ridge. Southern mills 2 and 3 date to Phase 3 or earlier but their undercrofts are removed. Two tailraces (2506, 2507) ran NW from Southern mill 4. The headrace (Wth 4.5m; D 0.3-0.48m) of Southern mill 1 with a metaled base approached SW-NE but narrowed (Wth 2.5m; D 0.15m) before encountering four post-holes that may have held a dam and supported the flume before the level dropped into the undercroft of the millhouse. Three of the four posts of the millhouse were in place forming a framework (dims 2.1m N-S; 2m E-W) with the remains of side-planking of the undercroft in place at N and S. A sample from one of the posts produced a C14 date of 660-782 cal. AD. Other timbers were in the undercroft beneath boulder clay from the collapsed sides. No part of the millwheel was present but the bolster that would have supported the end of the flume and the bridge-sole were. The tailrace (Wth 4m; D 0.9m) continued NE (L 36m plus) to the edge of the cutting, filled with marls and gravels. (Seaver 2009, 68-71) See the attached illustrations from Seaver (2009, vol. 2) _1 Phase 3 (fig. 23) _2 Plan of Southern mill 1 (fig. 72) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036013 Water mill - horizontal-wheeled
  Description

  Southern mills 1 and 4 are dated to Phase 3 and were fed by four mill-races of Phase 3 or earlier, from two watercourses. One watercourse ran S and E (L 119m) from a possible pond in low wet ground to the W of the ridge. Southern mills 2 and 3 date to Phase 3 or earlier but their undercrofts are largely removed. Two tailraces ran NW from Southern mill 4. A SW-NE headrace for Southern mill 2 was severely truncated by later millraces and ran parallel with and just N of the headrace that supplied Southern mill 1. It widens into a broader channel before dropping into the undercroft (Wth 1.95m; D 1.35m) of Southern mill 2. The undercroft had a metaled floor, but no structural timbers remained, not even post-holes. The tailrace continued NE to the edge of the cutting, filled with marls and gravels, but it was cut by the tailrace of the final Southern mill 5. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 72-5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Copied from web-page: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036014 Water mill - horizontal-wheeled
  Description

  Southern mills 1 and 4 are dated to Phase 3 and were fed by four mill-races of Phase 3 or earlier, from two watercourses. One watercourse ran S and E (L 119m) from a possible pond in low wet ground to the W of the ridge. Southern mills 2 and 3 date to Phase 3 or earlier but their undercrofts are largely removed. Two tailraces ran NW from Southern mill 4. The stoney deposit underlying Southern mill 5 sealed an undercroft (dims 2.3m NE-SW; 3.3m NW-SE; D 0.4m) with a flat base of Southern mill 3, but it is not possible to identify which millraces it might be associated with. The rectangular cut was filled with a basal layer of gravel overlain by a thin dark brown organic clay which was beneath a layer of gravel. The remains of stone walls survived at NW (L 1.1m) and SE (L 1m) overlain by a layer of brown organic silty clay that contained a pivot stone and fragments of oak timbers. Everything was sealed by the metaled surface of the Southern mill 5 undercroft. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 74-5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036015 Water mill - horizontal-wheeled
  Description

  Two curving NW-SE headraces of Phase 2-3 that altered their direction to SW-NE led to Southern mill 3 and this Southern mill 4, but because of the large headrace/millpond created for Southern mill 5 in the same area it is not possible to say which millrace fed which mill. However, one led to the base-beam in two portions of a wooden sluice-gate that had mortices for vertical planks on its upper surface. The gate, flanked by substantial post-holes, led directly to the metaled base of the undercroft. The base-timbers surviving at SW (L 2.6m) and NW (L 1.8m) were placed on dwarf walls which survived on all sides except the NE. The stone tumble in the fill suggests that the undercroft may have been stone-lined. A sample from one of the timbers, which might have been re-used, yielded a C14 date of 653-730 cal. AD. This mill was severely truncated by Southern mill 5, which was positioned just to the NE of this mill. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 74-5) See the attached illustrations from Seaver (2009, vol. 2) _1 Phase 3 (fig. 23) _2 Plan of Southern mill 4 (fig. 80) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

• ME045-036016 Water mill - horizontal-wheeled
  Description

  During Phase 4 (700-900 AD) a substantial mill with a large oak framework was established over Southern mills 3 and 4. A SW-NE millrace expands into a shallow millpond (Wth 8-10m; L c. 20m; D 0.75m) that was filled largely with grey/brown silt deposits. At its NE edge boulder clay deposits formed a dam leading to the undercroft (dims 3m NE-SW; 2m NW-SE) that was formed by large oak base-beams, all of which survived except that at NE. A plank from the NW side-beam provided a C14 date of 763-895 cal. AD, and there were three other planks from the side-walls within the undercroft area. A second beam inside that at SW may have been for the bridge-sole. The tailrace ran SW-NE parallel with and just S of another channel that cut a major Phase 2 NE-SW ditch, but both channels were intended to function together. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 79-83) See the attached illustrations from Seaver (2009, vol. 2) _1 Phase 4 (fig. 76) _2 Plan of Southern mill 5 (fig. 82) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Raystown.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

About 1 in 20 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Raystown.

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Raystown with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Meath.

Name

Raystown

Area

1,223,601 m² (122.36 ha, 302.36 acres)

Civil parish

Ratoath, and its townlands

Barony

Ratoath

Electoral division

Ratoath, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Ratoath electoral division: 11,894 people in 3,639 households; 84% of households own their home; 58% of homes were built since 2001; 3% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballybin, Harlockstown, Killegland, Rathcool, Ratoath, Tankardstown

Placenames

Raystown on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.