Rockbarton

Area

58,720 m² (5.87 ha, 14.51 acres)

Buildings

3 buildings touch it. Their footprint covers 294 m².

Zoning

No zone of a development plan covers it in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply.

Townland

Rockbarton

Planning applications on this parcel

No planning application touches this parcel in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

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 this parcel.

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 36 recorded monuments.

• LI031-041001 Field system
  Description

  In pasture, on the Deer Park of Cahir Guillamore House located 290m to NE. Not depicted on OSi historic maps. According to Dowd (1896, 80), ‘Certain mounds in the demesne of Caherguillamore have been assumed to be the foundations of extensive buildings, and modern work refers to them as being “the remains of an ancient city of great extent”. Described by O’Kelly (1943, 232-3) as: ‘Medieval village and complex of other remains of various periods. This complex of monuments covers some 500 acres in area and includes the remains of a group of houses, ancient field fences, roads and forts’. Ó Ríordáin and Hunt (1942, 42-3) described the site as, ‘that of square or oblong fields, usually bounded by straight lines, but sometimes by curves or other irregular outlines. The size of the fields varies considerably but the pattern is the usual chequerpattern exemplified in the existing field-system throughout Ireland. For the most part, the early field banks bear no relation to the modern system in this area, which, with its large enclosed spaces of deer-park, etc., is not normal to the Irish country-side, and is due to the 18th century demesne system. It will be noted, however, that in some instances the older banks coincide or align with the recent ones; this may, to some extent, be coincidence, but must also in places be due to survival, an earlier bank continuing to be used in the later system. Further, a close study of the air photograph shows that the old fields are not all coeval, and that changes were made in their outline at various times. It is not easy to make this clear in words, but, in general, we would suggest that the smaller, more irregular, fields near the eastern margin of the air photograph are earlier than the larger ones to the north-west (i.e., S. and S.W. of the ornamental pond at Caherguillamore House). We would also point out that fields of different dates may be noted in this latter area, since traces of cultivation furrows may be seen crossing the marks of earlier field walls. This suggestion is further strengthened by the fact that in the case of forts A and B (which latter is outside the area of the photograph), the field banks tend to radiate from the forts, showing that the forts had some significance, either because of occupation or otherwise, when the field walls were built. In the case of No. 2 there is no such respect shown for the fort, and in fact the builders of the bank on the south-west constructed it across the rampart, cutting off a narrow segment’. Upstanding monument identified as an extensive field system and is clearly visible on oblique aerial photograph taken 20/07/1968 (CUCAP ATD034). Monument is visible extending across a wide landscape covering at least 65ha/160 acres of pasture, spanning both sides of the approach road running N-S into Cahir Guillamore estate, and potentially extending further E across the townland of Rockbarton and further to S of the public road into the townland of Ballynanty. This field system consists of numerous linear and curvilinear earthworks and cropmarks suggesting an earlier field pattern and incorporates 31 recorded monuments (LI031-041001-/041031-). Monument is visible on aerial photograph (ASIAP 307, 3 & 5), although it is best seen on OSi orthoimages taken 2005-2012, on Digital Globe orthoimages taken 2011-2013 and on Google Earth orthoimage taken 20/09/2020. See attached Google Earth orthoimage, ASIAP and CUCAP aerial survey image with field system annotated in pink, aerial image (Ó Ríordáin & Hunt 1942, 40) marked Figure 1 and key to aerial image marked Figure 2. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 3 November 2020

• LI031-041002 Enclosure
  Description

  In pasture, on the former deer park of Cahir Guillamore demesne, 200m SE of a townland boundary with Coolfune and Killorath. Within NW portion of field system (LI031-041001-). Not depicted on OSi historic maps. According to Dowd (1896, 80), this enclosure forms part of an extensive settlement that 'has been assumed to be the foundations of extensive buildings, and modern work refers to them as being “the remains of an ancient city of great extent”. Upstanding monument identified as a D-shaped enclosure (Fort 3) on aerial image and annotated on key to aerial image (Ó Ríordáin and Hunt 1942, 40-41; Figures 1 and 2). Ó Ríordáin and Hunt (ibid, 41) described this monument as a: ‘D-shaped, which may have been its original outline’. Monument is visible as a D-shaped enclosure (44m NE-SW; 43m NW-SE) with straight side to SW, on aerial photograph (ASIAP 307, 3 & 5), on OSi orthoimages taken 2005-2012, on Digital Globe orthoimages taken 2011-2013 and on Google Earth orthoimage taken 20/09/2020. See attached Google Earth orthoimage, ASIAP and CUCAP aerial survey image with enclosure marked 2, aerial image (Ó Ríordáin & Hunt 1942, 40) marked Figure 1 and key to aerial image marked Figure 2 (Fort 3). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 3 November 2020

• LI031-041003 Boulder-burial
  Description

  Described in 1942-3 as following; 'This is a similar structure to the last [LI031-041006-). The maximum height of the boulder is 2' 4" [0.7m] and it measures 4' 6" [1.4m] by 4' [1.2m] on plan. Both are situated in good low-land and form part of the great complex of monuments in this area, the chief feature of which is the mediaeval village' (O'Kelly 1942-3, 232). Boulder visible today on Digital Globe aerial photographs. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 March 2020

• LI031-041004 Enclosure
  Description

  In pasture, on the former deer park of Cahir Guillamore demesne and 90m NE of a townland boundary with a portion of Rockbarton Demesne deer park, (which is recorded on OSi maps within Caherguillamore townland). Within NW portion of field system (LI031-041001-). Depicted as a circular-shaped earthwork (42m NE-SW; 41m NW-SE) on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map. Annotated ‘Cathair Gail’ and depicted as a semicircular-shaped enclosure on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map. According to Dowd (1896, 80), this enclosure forms part of an extensive settlement that have been assumed to be the foundations of extensive buildings, and modern work refers to them as being “the remains of an ancient city of great extent”. Upstanding monument identified as a suboval-shaped enclosure on aerial image and annotated on key to aerial image (Ó Ríordáin and Hunt 1942, 40-41; Figures 1 and 2, Fort D). Ó Ríordáin and Hunt (ibid, 41) described this monument as: 'an irregular enclosure on the ground but one could not be certain that it is a fort'. Levelled monument is not visible on aerial photographs (ASIAP 307, 5), or on OSi orthoimages taken 2005-2012, or on Digital Globe orthoimages taken 2011-2013, although a circular-shaped cropmark (diam. 44m) is visible on Google Earth orthoimage taken 24/09/2018. See attached Google Earth orthoimage, ASIAP and CUCAP aerial survey image with enclosure encircled and marked ‘X’, aerial image (Ó Ríordáin & Hunt 1942, 40) marked Figure 1 and key to aerial image marked Figure 2 (Fort D). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 3 November 2020

• LI031-041005 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  In pasture, on the former deer park of Cahir Guillamore demesne and 225m W of a townland boundary with Rockbarton. Within southern portion of field system (LI031-041001-). Not depicted on OSi historic maps, depicted on OSi 5k map as a roughly circular-shaped enclosure (diam. 31m). According to Dowd (1896, 80), this enclosure forms part of an extensive settlement that 'have been assumed to be the foundations of extensive buildings, and modern work refers to them as being “the remains of an ancient city of great extent”. Upstanding monument identified as a circular-shaped enclosure on aerial image and annotated on key to aerial image (Ó Ríordáin and Hunt 1942, 40-41; Figures 1 and 2, Fort 2). Ó Ríordáin and Hunt (ibid, 41) described this monument as following: 'it has stone banks and is 27 yards (25m) in internal diameter'. Monument is visible as a roughly circular-shaped enclosure standing in centre of earthworks which appears to be the remains of a deserted medieval settlement. Monument clearly visible on OSi orthoimages taken 2005-2012, on Digital Globe orthoimages taken 2011-2013 and on Google Earth orthoimage taken 20/09/2020. See attached Google Earth orthoimage, aerial photograph with enclosure encircled and marked 5, aerial image (Ó Ríordáin & Hunt 1942, 40) marked Figure 1 and key to aerial image marked Figure 2 (Fort 2). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 5 November 2020

• LI031-041006 Boulder-burial
  Description

  Described in 1942-3 as following; This is a very doubtful site, but the structure may be a very devolved megalith. It consists of a large boulder of limestone resting on a number of quite small stones under its centre. The small stones have not been placed with any particular care or arrangement. The maximum height of the top of the boulder is 4' [1.2m]. The stone measures 8' [2.4m] north-south and 5' 6" [1.7m] east-west' (O'Kelly 1942-3, 232). Boulder visible today on Digital Globe aerial photographs. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 March 2020

• LI031-041007 House - medieval
  Description

  In pasture, on the former deer park of Cahir Guillamore demesne, 125m W of a townland boundary with Rockbarton. Within southern portion of field system (LI031-041001-) and within deserted medieval settlement (LI031-041009-), to the immediate N of House 2 (LI031-041008-). Not depicted on OSi historic maps. According to Dowd (1896, 80), this house forms part of an extensive settlement that ‘…have been assumed to be the foundations of extensive buildings, and modern work refers to them as being “the remains of an ancient city of great extent”. Upstanding monument identified as a rectangular-shaped earthwork on aerial image and annotated on key to aerial image (Ó Ríordáin and Hunt 1942, 40-41; Figures 1 and 2, to N of Fort A). Ó Ríordáin and Hunt (ibid, 43-47) refers to this monument as House 1 and describes it as following: ‘Low grass covered mounds about two feet high, sloping outwards to the surrounding field, and inward on all sides to a central depression. The bank was fairly continuous, though at the north-western corner of House I its line was marked by a series of rounded knolls and there were slight breaks in other places in both houses. On excavation, it was seen that the walls were built of stone with well-formed straight inner and outer faces formed of stones either with natural flat surfaces or dressed for the purpose. Both within and without, the slope of the bank consisted of fallen stone from the wall, mixed with yellow clay and humus, and the ground around and inside was covered with fallen stones. In the centre of the enclosure, the depth of turf and humus was only three inches, and below it was the natural bedrock of the hill. This had almost the appearance of an artificial cobbling as it was flat and seamed and fissured in all directions, the rounded pebbles of decaying limestone giving the impression of a floor artificially laid down. These cracks were filled with a fine dark soil containing a few small gravel stones which served to level the, otherwise lumpy, floor. The spill from the walls consisted of large stones mixed with yellow clay and small stones which had formed the mortar of the wall, and which still remained in position in the standing portions. When this spill was removed, a dark black layer of carbonised wood, one and a half inches thick and eighteen inches broad, was found running round the whole of the interior, close to the foot of the wall. This was covered with a layer of clay between two and three inches thick, free from stone, underlying the spill from the body of the wall. The carbonised band in its turn covered a second clay layer of the same breadth and thickness: under this was the rock floor with its filling of dark refuse. This black layer thus sandwiched between two layers of clay consisted of remains of sticks ranging from half an inch to one inch in thickness. We would suggest that it represented the wattle lining of the walls? the clay on which it lay being the face applied to the wattle to render the wall smooth and flat, and that which lay upon it being the foundation on the stone face of the wall into which the wattle had been pressed. The sequence of events seems to have been that the outer face of the wall fell first, then the wattle skeleton fell in decay, and finally the clay foundation on the actual wall itself came down, covering the remains of the wattle and sealing them in. Six feet six inches from the west end of the house, and close against the inside of the north wall, was a rectangular pit in the rock formed by the removal of some of the decayed limestone. This pit, which measured 12 inches (0.3m) by 24 inches (0.6m) long and was 9 inches (0.22m) deep, contained fine dark soil and some packing stones, as if for the base of a post. In a corresponding position against the south wall of the house was another post hole of the same size. This had evidently been empty at the time of the fall of the wall lining, as it was filled with the fallen clay from the face of the wall. From their position it seems clear that these post holes held the posts supporting a partition which divided the house into two apartments. The rock floor ceased abruptly close to the base of the west wall and parallel to it. The floor here was levelled with a filling of yellow clay, and the footings of the west wall were 6 inches (0.15m) below the rock floor level on a dark filling. Towards the east end of the house, the floor was more uneven, and in the north-east corner the limestone had broken away, forming an irregular pit. This ran up to and under the east wall which was built over it. A pavement of irregularly-shaped limestone flags had been laid down to level the floor at this end of the house, but it did not entirely cover the pit, the west and shallower end of which was filled with fine black soil containing a few bones mixed with stones. The debris of the wall lay on top of this paving which did not extend across the whole width of the house but only occupied half this width extending five feet towards the west. The angles of the ground plan of the walls were not quite right angles, nor were the walls laid out as perfect straight lines, but the end walls bowed slightly outwards, and the long walls also but less obviously so. The external dimensions of the house were 43 feet by 20 feet (13m x 6.1m). The entrance doorway was placed in the north wall, slightly to the east of the centre and exactly midway in the wall between the post hole of the partition and the inner east corner. It was splayed slightly inwards, being 3 feet (0.91m) wide on the outside face of the wall and 6 inches (0.15m) wider at the inner face. The internal jambs were strengthened by a thickening of the walls in this region, the thickness where pierced by the door being 6 inches (0.15m) greater than the average, sloping away on either side of the inner opening to die into the inner face two feet (0.6m) from the doorway. A sill formed of three stones, of an average thickness of 4 inches (0.1m) and a width of 8 inches (0.2m), lay across the threshold midway in the wall. This was an integral part of the construction, the easternmost stone being built into the base of the wall on this side for half its length. The south wall close to the south-west corner was formed of smaller stones than in the adjacent portions. There had originally been a second doorway in this position, and at some later period it had been blocked up (PI. II, 3). The adjoining wall was thicker than the filling, and the original jambs formed of larger stones showed clearly, but were not splayed like those of the north door. This filling was built into the doorway and not bonded in on either This filling was built into the doorway and not bonded in on either side. The slight break in the wall formed by the built-up door had no doubt been hidden under the wattle and mud plaster, as the carbonised wattle and the clay of the wall face continued without a break at the foot of the filling as round the whole of the interior. The position of the hearth was represented by a large patch of yellowish-brown ash that lay slightly to the south-west of the entrance door, towards the centre of the house. The exterior of the walls, when cleared of spill and fallen stone, presented a similar appearance to the interior of the house, the stones being mostly large with flat faces. The external corners of the house were much rounded, giving it almost the form of an "oval rectangle." There was a layer of clay at the base of the wall apparently fallen from the face, but no sign of wattle. The floor outside the house was the natural rock, as in the interior, and here also the cracks were filled with fine dark soil, but with the addition of gravel pebbles to fill the interstices and level the surface. In the region of the north-west corner the fault in the bedrock, noticed in the interior, was revealed as an abrupt cessation of the rock floor which was continued by a paving or rough artificial co

• LI031-041008 House - medieval
  Description

  In pasture, on the former deer park of Cahir Guillamore demesne, 125m W of a townland boundary with Rockbarton. Within southern portion of field system (LI031-041001-) and within deserted medieval settlement (LI031-041009-), to the immediate S of House 1 (LI031-041007-). Not depicted on OSi historic maps. According to Dowd (1896, 80), this house forms part of an extensive settlement that ‘…have been assumed to be the foundations of extensive buildings, and modern work refers to them as being “the remains of an ancient city of great extent”. Upstanding monument identified as a rectangular-shaped earthwork on aerial image and annotated on key to aerial image (Ó Ríordáin and Hunt 1942, 40-41; Figures 1 and 2, to N of Fort A). Ó Ríordáin and Hunt (ibid, 47-49) refers to this monument as House 2 and describes it as: ‘This house lay to the south of House I and roughly parallel to it. Its dimensions were less, 32' 3" x 18' 3", (9.8m x 5.6m) and its centre slightly further west than the centre of the other. There was, therefore, a small "yard" in the angle formed by the south wall of House I and the east wall of House II. As in House I, the floor was the natural limestone rock surface. The depth of spill and humus covering it was slightly greater in this house, and the floor sloped gently downwards from the south west to the north-east. A long central fault, 18" to 24" (5.5m to 7.3m) wide, occupied almost the entire length of the line of the major axis, with the exception of 5' (1.5m) near the west end. The floor was levelled with dark habitation deposit and pebbles in the cracks in the out crop, and towards the north-east, over the lowest part of the floor, a rough paving of flat stones had been laid down. This covered the long central fault, and ran through the doorway where it was continuous with the paving covering the floor of the passage between the two houses. Several fragments of quern stones had been used in this paving, an almost complete, though broken, stone forming part of the threshold of the doorway. The hearth lay in the centre of the house, over the long fault in the floor, which was completely filled in this area with the fine reddish ash, and must have been used as a sunken hearth before it became filled up. The walls differed both in plan and construction from those of House I. In plan they were straight with sharp square angles but the east wall widened considerably from north to south. Smaller stones were used in their construction than were found in House I. These were not so well and closely laid, and had collapsed to a greater extent. In the widest part of the east wall, close to the south corner there was no facing at all, the wall merely consisting of a mass of small stones, and this faulty construction had caused it to slip and disintegrate. The most noticeable difference in construction, however, was that the foundations of the walls were not on the bedrock but on the dark habitation deposit of fine soil. This was particularly apparent in the western portion of the passage between the two houses, where the foundation of House I was on the yellow clay, while the wall of House II rested on the dark layer covering this clay and stopping against the wall of House I. The dark layer occurred everywhere below the found ations, and was, on the south side, from 4" to 8" (1.2-2.4m) thick (PL III, 3). In this region, on the south-east, was a pit in the rock filled In this region, on the south-east, was a pit in the rock filled with bones and black soil, on the edge of which the wall ran, and this, together with the poor footings, may have caused a settle ment or movement in the wall, as a buttress had been built in this position against the south-east corner projecting eastwards. The foundations of this buttress were as poor as those of the wall itself and stood also on the black deposit. The door of the house was in the north wall, approximately in a similar position to the main door of House I, and, like it, was narrower on the exterior. The walls, however, in the vicinity of the jambs were of normal thickness and had not been strengthened or buttressed. No post holes were found in the interior of this house, nor was there any indication of a partition. The cobbled pavement of the passage between the houses continued over the "yard." Under this paving was a large pit 9' 3" (2.8m) by more than 10' 0" (3m), extending from the east wall of House II, which was built on the edge of it, and disappearing under the unexcavated area to the east. It was 36" (0.91m) deep below the bedrock floor and was filled with a fine dark black soil containing much bone. Monument identified as a rectangular-shaped earthwork on black and white aerial photographs marked ‘X’ and numbered 8 (SMR File). Also visible on OSi orthoimages taken 2005-2012, on Digital Globe orthoimages taken 2011-2013 and on Google Earth orthoimage taken 24/09/2018. See attached Google Earth orthoimage taken 24/09/2018, black and white aerial image with Houses 1 and 2 marked ‘X’ and numbered 8 (Ó Ríordáin & Hunt 1942, 39) and key to aerial image marked Figure 2 and numbered ‘X’ to N of Fort A (ibid, 40). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 5 November 2020

• LI031-041009 Settlement deserted - medieval
  Description

  Medieval village earthworks described in 1942-3 as following; 'Mediaeval Village and complex of other remains of various periods. This complex of monuments covers some 500 acres in area and includes the remains of a group of houses, ancient field fences, roads and forts. For full list of monuments, detailed descriptions, aerial photo, historical references and an account of the excavation of two house sites, see Ó Ríordáin and Hunt: J.R.S.A.I., LXXII (1942), 37 ff.' (O'Kelly 1942-3, 232-3). Earthworks visible today on Digital Globe aerial photographs. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 March 2020

• LI031-041010 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  In pasture, on the former deer park of Cahir Guillamore demesne, 120m W of a townland boundary with Rockbarton. Within southern portion of field system (LI031-041001-), within deserted medieval settlement (LI031-041009-), 50m NW of standing stone (LI031-041013-) and 85m W of ringfort (LI031-041011-). Annotated ‘Cahirguillamore’ (Cathair an Ghiolla Mhóir/ stone fort of the big youth, servant) on the 1897 ed. OSi 25-inch map where it is depicted as a circular-shaped earthwork (diam. 37m) bisected by a townland boundary. According to Dowd (1896, 80), this monument forms part of an extensive settlement that 'have been assumed to be the foundations of extensive buildings, and modern work refers to them as being “the remains of an ancient city of great extent”. Upstanding monument identified as a circular-shaped earthwork on aerial image and annotated on key to aerial photograph (Ó Ríordáin and Hunt 1942, 40-41; Figures 1 and 2 as ‘A’). Ó Ríordáin and Hunt (ibid, 41) refer to this monument as Fort A and describe it as: ‘A fort cut by one of the Deerpark walls is marked Caherguillamore. It is a stone-ramparted fort 25 yards (23m) in internal diameter and the outer fencing of the stone wall may be traced in places. Immediately south-east of this fort a standing stone is shown; this has now disappeared, and we were informed locally that it had been used in the construction of the modern Land Commission houses erected nearby’. Monument identified as a circular-shaped earthwork on black and white aerial photograph numbered 10. Vsible on OSi orthoimages taken 2005-2012, on Digital Globe orthoimages taken 2011-2013 and on Google Earth orthoimage taken 16/03/2016. See attached Google Earth orthoimage, black and white aerial image with monument numbered 10 (Ó Ríordáin & Hunt 1942, 39) and key to aerial image marked Figure 2 and numbered ‘A’ referring to Fort A (ibid, 40). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 5 November 2020

And 26 more.

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.

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).

Ground and risks

Radon

At the centre of this parcel, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately low, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of this parcel.

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under 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.

Download this parcel as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its neighbours and buildings, for a drawing program. GeoJSON, in WGS 84, suits a map, and KML opens in Google Earth.

Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.