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Ballymena's Motte and Bailey
By Christopher Best (P6 St Mary's
Primary School, Ballymena)
The Motte and Bailey is one of the most historic places
in Ballymena. It was built by the Normans around 800
years ago.
A motte castle was a well-defended fort built on top
of a manmade mound. Most of the soil would have been
dug out of the surrounding ground and piled up to form
a steep-sided almost circular mound.
The bailey was an area where the soldiers would live,
along side storehouses and a small stable for horses.
The motte and bailey would have been surrounded by a
high fence of pointed stakes.
The motte was used by the Normans as a look out post.
Its height gave soldiers a long-range view of the surrounding
countryside, allowing them to prepare for danger in
good time. The watchtower would have been built on top
of the larger hill and if enemies approached a fire
beacon on top of the watchtower could be lit to warn
others of the attack.
Harryville Motte and Bailey were placed along the main
route where valuable goods passed. This route ran from
Cork to Dunseverick. From their fort, soldiers could
watch traffic coming and going and possibly charge people
for using the shallow crossing on the River Braid.
Can you add any more detail to Christopher's brief
history of Ballymena's motte and bailey? Have you any
photographs of it? Is it somewhere you like to visit?
Share your comments and thoughts with others by either
e-mailing "Your Place & mine" at ypam-online@bbc.co.uk
or posting your remarks directly yourself
at the bottom of the page.
St Mary's P6 pupils are obviously proud of where they
live. Pick a tower and click on it to read more of their
contributions....
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Slemish |
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Motte
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Pennybridge |
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Michelin |
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Headless
Horseman |
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Gallahers |
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Ballymena
today |
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YOUR RESPONSES:
Mariahe Porfitova - May 05
I am Russian and I do not know much of English history it
was good to read because it helped me to learn of this.
Your Reponses:
Suzanne R. Miles - July '06
The headless horseman came from Ireland! I am delighted to
touch your past (I was in NI two years ago: Please keep your
land, please don't do what we have allowed here in America,
to erase the stories, the trees, the stones, the buildings,
the flowers, the *sense of place*, as if they never ever existed.)
Why oh why can't we respect story and history as you do?
Better than a Sunday afternoon in WalMat EVER! EVER! EVER!
I know you know that.
At this moment, I lament. Love, fom America, Suzanne
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