Clough Castle
Ruined motte-and-bailey castle in County Down, Northern Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clough Castle is a 12th century Anglo-Norman motte-and-bailey castle located in Clough, County Down, Northern Ireland. It consists of a ruined tower house situated on a 7.6 metres (25 ft) high motte. A small crescent-shaped bailey lies next to the south-east of the motte, separated by a 2.1 metres (6 ft 11 in) deep ditch.[1][2]
,_October_2009.JPG)
| Clough Castle | |
|---|---|
Clough Castle in October 2009 | |
| Location | Clough, County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°17′32″N 5°50′12″W |
| Built | 11th century |
| Rebuilt | 15th century |
| Architect | John de Courcy |
  Location of Clough Castle in Northern Ireland | |
History
Clough Castle was constructed during the 12th century by John de Courcy. At this time the motte was defended by a relatively soft and flammable timber palisade of posts under 10cm in diameter, which may have been covered with clay for added strength.[3] Behind the palisade, there were three pits for archers to stand in, with rough loopholes framed by boulders.[3] In the mid-13th century, a stone hall was built within the palisade, and seems to have burnt down almost immediately.[3] A stone keep was then built, and the palisade was replaced by an earth bank.[3] The castle may have been abandoned during the early 14th century before the keep was rebuilt as a tower house in the 15th or 16th centuries.[1][3]
The motte was almost completely excavated under Dudley Waterman in 1951–52, revealing the early phases of the site's occupation.[4][3]
