# Spinans Hill, Co. Wicklow: townland, land parcels and planning

Townland in the civil parish of Donaghmore, barony of Talbotstown Upper, Co. Wicklow; in Irish Cnoc na Spíonán.

- Area (Tailte Éireann): 523,758 m² (52.38 ha, 129.42 acres)
- Land parcels (Tailte Éireann): 4 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in it, median 141,515 m² (14.15 ha, 34.97 acres)
- Zoning (national zoning, MyPlan): not in a zoned settlement
- Planning (National Planning Applications): 0 applications since 2010
- Civil parish: Donaghmore, https://everytownland.com/wicklow/parish/donaghmore.md
- Barony: Talbotstown Upper
- Electoral division: Eadestown, the unit of the census
- Census 2022 (Central Statistics Office): 215 people lived in 73 households in the Eadestown electoral division. 90% of households owned their home. 31% of homes were built since 2001. 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 2% were holiday homes.
- County: Co. Wicklow, https://everytownland.com/wicklow.md
- Placenames Database of Ireland: https://www.logainm.ie/en/54729
- Townland number at Tailte Éireann: 251253
- Centre: latitude 52.964621, longitude -6.628072 (WGS 84)

## Land parcels (registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann)

4 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Spinans Hill, from 2,096 m² (0.21 ha, 0.52 acres) to 240,366 m² (24.04 ha, 59.4 acres); 12 neighbouring parcels touch its boundary. Largest first:

- Parcel 1277282: 240,366 m² (24.04 ha, 59.4 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1277282.md
- Parcel 1265532: 227,000 m² (22.7 ha, 56.09 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1265532.md
- Parcel 1285262: 56,029 m² (5.6 ha, 13.85 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/1285262.md
- Parcel 4915176: 2,096 m² (0.21 ha, 0.52 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/4915176.md

## Zoning (national zoning of development plans, MyPlan)

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

## Planning applications whose site touches the townland (National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

No planning application touches the townland of Spinans Hill in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

## Designated sites (National Parks and Wildlife Service)

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

## Recorded monuments (Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service)

- WI021-080003: Cairn - unclassified, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CWI021-080003-. Situated on the NNW edge of the summit of Spinans Hill, within Spinans Hill hillfort (WI027-078002-) which lies within the larger hillfort complex (WI027-078001-/WI021-080001-), with extensive view in all directions. One of five unclassified cairns close to a larger cairn (WI021-080004-). This cairn (diam. 4.5m) is c. 10m to the S. It comprises a pile of loose stones among which are a number of small boulders. There is a hollow in the centre. The other four cairns (WI021-080006- to WI021-080009-) lie to the N of the large cairn. (Grogan no. 5, SMR file) Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 11 December 2012
- WI027-078001: Hillfort, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CWI027-078001-. A very extensive hillfort complex occupying the whole of the Spinans Hill-Brusselstown hilltop, 6.4km NE of Baltinglass. The hillfort on Brusselstown Hill (known as 'Brusselstown Ring') (WI027-018----)(dims. c. 320m NW-SE; c. 200m NE-SW) is enclosed by a collapsed rampart (Wth 5-12m) composed of limestone boulders and is surmounted by a modern field wall. The interior rises towards several high points (the highest is OD 1327) marked by limestone outcrops. Two hut sites (WI027-018001-, WI027-018002-) have been identified within Brusselstown Ring and another 22 are on the S slopes outside the rampart (WI027-019---- to WI027-01919-). The Spinans Hill hillfort (OD 1346) (WI027-078002-)(dims. 550m N-S; 320m E-W), about 1.5km to the NW, comprises an irregularly shaped area enclosed by a peat-covered earthen bank, best preserved at N and E arid largely levelled over the remainder of its course. A large cairn and five smaller ones (WI027-017001-) lie within the hillfort. At a lower level (OD c. 1000-1100), another outer rampart has been identified which encloses a roughly L-shaped area and encompasses both Spinans Hill and Brusselstown Hill (dims. c. 1500m NW-SE; c. 350-500m NE-SW; 130 hectares). The enclosing element consists in part of a double rampart with intervening fosse (av. total Wth 15m) faced with stone in some areas and is best preserved at E and W. Three gaps at N may represent original entranceways. Other features occurring within the complex are ancient field walls (WI027-078006-), a circular enclosure (diam. 17m) (WI027-078004-) situated some 400m NW of Brusselstown Ring, and a circular platform of stones (diam. 10m) 50m SW of the enclosure. Outside the rampart to the N there is some evidence of settlement comprising enclosures, hut sites and field walls (WI027-078003-). GPS survey by O'Driscoll in 2014. (Price 1949, 162-5 and 1967, 508; Condit 1992, 16-20) (CUCAP, AHK048-049; AYP032-034) The hillfort was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Contour fort surrounding all of Spinans Hill and enclosing the hillforts of Brusselstown Ring (Atlas No.0718) and Spinans Hill 1 (Atlas No.0726). Spinans Hill 2 is an extensive earthwork with a total site footprint of 131ha. This is the largest hillfort in Ireland and is one of nine hillforts comprising the Baltinglass hillfort cluster. Condit (1992, 19) has noted that there are a number of breaches to the north which he believes are original entrance features. Bersu noted a possible roadway to the hillfort at the south-west corner of Brusselstown Ring (in Corlett and Weaver 2002, 504). There are up to 250 hut structures within the interior. These may be associated with Brusselstown Ring. Condit (1992, 20; 1998, 20) has recorded a possible passage tomb cemetery within the interior of the contour fort. This may be associated with Spinans Hill 1. Another cairn and enclosure have been recorded within the large contour fort (Condit 1992, 20). The ramparts survive well at the N and NW where it comprises a double bank with an intervening ditch, 15m in total width. The SE section of Spinans Hill 2 integrates a large portion of the outer enclosing element of Brusselstown Ring. The SW section of the enclosing elements of Spinans Hill 2 have been destroyed. The monument was only recently discovered by Condit (1992). Monument survey by Condit in 1998. GPS survey by O'Driscoll in 2014. This large hillfort incorporates a number of townlands including; Brusselstown, Spinans Middle, Castlequater, Castlesallagh, Coolamaddra, Eadestown Hill, Moorstown, Spinans Hill and Ballyhubbock. Spinans Hill 2 surrounds two other hillforts; the univallate contour fort Spinans Hill 1 and the bivallate multiple enclosure of Brusselstown Ring. Approximately 250 possible hut structures are immediately outside of the inner enclosure of Brusselstown Ring and inside Spinans Hill 2. Condit (1992, 20; 1998, 20) has recorded a possible passage tomb cemetery within Spinans Hill 1 hillfort. Another cairn within Spinans Hill 2 is now under forestry. Fifty meters to the NE, a 17m diameter circular enclosure located on level ground between two natural mounds has been interpreted as a possible ritual monument (Condit 1992, 20).' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0727.html) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 7 February 2020
- WI027-078002: Hillfort, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CWI027-078002-. On the top of Spinans Hill c. 1.5km NW of Brusselstown Ring and within the Spinans Hill hillfort complex (WI021-080001-/WI027-078001-). The remains of a large irregularly shaped area (550m N-S; 320m E-W) enclosed by a peat-covered earthen bank, best preserved at N and E and largely levelled over the remainder of its course. Visible on aerial photographs (OSi c. 2005: Accessed 19 December 2012; Google Earth, Accessed 19 December 2012, Imagery date 16 April 2003). Within this hillfort is a large cairn (WI021-080004-), and five smaller ones (WI021-080003-, WI021-080006-, WI021-080007-, WI021-080008-, and WI021-080009-). GPS survey by O'Driscoll in 2014. (Condit 1992, 20) The hillfort was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Contour fort positioned in commanding position on domed E summit of Spinans Hill at SW edge of Wicklow mountains. Spinans Hill 1 is one of nine hillforts comprising the Baltinglass hillfort cluster. Univallate for its entire circuit and forming a complete circuit, it has a total site footprint of approximately 11.1ha. There are no recorded entrance features. Condit (1992, 20; 1998, 20) has recorded what he interprets as a Neolithic passage tomb cemetery within the interior of the hillfort. This comprises a large central cairn positioned at the summit of the hillfort, surrounded by five smaller examples. The ramparts survive best to the E. Interior heavily overgrown with scrub and heather. First identified by Condit in 1992. Monument survey by Condit in 1998. GPS survey by O'Driscoll in 2014. Center of the hillfort is bisected by the boundary between the townlands of Spinans Hill and Ballyhubbock Upper. The interior of this hillfort is overgrown with heather, making identification of low relief ground features difficult. No habitation evidence has been identified within the interior. Condit (1992, 19 _ 20) has recorded six cairns at its centre. A large central cairn positioned at the summit of the hillfort is surrounded by five smaller examples. This group of cairns has been interpreted by Condit (1992, 20; 1998, 20) as a possible passage tomb cemetery. Structural features at the centre of the smaller cairns indicate that these may well be megalithic tombs. Price identified ruined cists in several robbed out smaller cairns (in Corlett and Weaver 2002, 467). Spinans Hill 1 is defined as an irregularly shaped area enclosed by a peat-covered earthen bank occupying 11.11ha. The bank is best preserved at the N and E and is largely levelled over the remainder of its perimeter (Grogan and Kilfeather 1997, 40 _ 41). It was identified through aerial photography by Condit (1992). Price had previously noted an element of the hillfort but did not identify it as such (in Corlett and Weaver 2002, 538 _ 539).' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0726.html) Compiled by: Mary Tunney Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 7 February 2020

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).

## Architectural heritage (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage)

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

## Ground and risks (Radon Risk Map of Ireland, EPA; Landslide Susceptibility Classification and LiDAR, Geological Survey Ireland)

- Radon: at the centre of the townland of Spinans Hill, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home: https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/radon/radon-testing/#d.en.82887
- Landslides: The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as high, moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred.
- Terrain model: no LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Spinans Hill.
- Flooding: the flood maps of the Office of Public Works, https://www.floodinfo.ie/map/floodmaps/, linked only: their licence does not allow re-use.

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.

## Downloads

- DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, for a drawing program: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/spinans-hill.dxf
- GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/spinans-hill.geojson
- KML, for Google Earth: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/spinans-hill.kml

## Homes sold (Residential Property Price Register)

No address of the register names Spinans Hill with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Wicklow: https://everytownland.com/wicklow.md

## Neighbouring townlands (National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann)

- Ballyhubbock Upper: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/ballyhubbock-upper.md
- Brusselstown: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/brusselstown.md
- Castlesallagh: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/castlesallagh.md
- Coolamaddra: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/coolamaddra.md
- Eadestown Hill: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/eadestown-hill.md
- Moorstown: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/moorstown-251068.md
- Spinans East: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/spinans-east.md
- Spinans Middle: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/spinans-middle.md

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.

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Everytownland reads the registered freehold land and the statutory boundaries of Tailte Éireann, the national zoning, planning file and heritage records of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Residential Property Price Register. 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; this site names no owner. A price is the price recorded for a past sale, not a valuation.

Sources: Cadastral Parcels Freehold, Townlands, Civil Parishes, Baronies, Electoral Divisions and Buildings, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0; national zoning of development plans (GZT, MyPlan) and National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0, applicants not shown; designated sites, National Parks and Wildlife Service, CC BY 4.0; Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service, CC BY 4.0; National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, CC BY 4.0; Residential Property Price Register, Property Services Regulatory Authority, re-used with the source acknowledged.

- Page: https://everytownland.com/wicklow/spinans-hill
- In JSON: https://everytownland.com/api/townland/wicklow/spinans-hill