County Antrim
Tuesday 17 March
Ballygally Castle (D372078) was viewed from the roadside. This 17th century tower-house has small corner turrets carried on corbels similar to those found in many Scottish castles. There are substantial remains of a bawn wall with round flanking towers.
Knockdhu Souterrain (D347067) was briefly explored. This complex structure is entered through a hole in the roof into a passage about 10m long. At the inner end the passage divides with a short branch about 2m long rising to the left. The main souterrain continues through a drop-hole creep into a passage about 5m long. This leads through another creep to a similar passage. This section of the souterrain was not explored on this occasion but it is known that another creep leads to a third 5m passage.
About halfway along the right side of this a creep leads to a 5m passage running parallel and in the opposite direction to the main souterrain. At the end of the third 5m passage a creep leads to the innermost passage which is also about 5m long and runs at right angles to the right of the main passage. The passages are generally about 1.5m square throughout and the creeps are about 70cm square and 1m long. A short distance from the souterrain is an overgrown motte which was not examined on this occasion.
The Linford Earthworks (D333072) were examined. Close to the road is a circular mound about 13m diameter, surrounded by a deep ditch and a higher bank. Almost touching this is another mound about 16m diameter, surrounded by a deeper ditch and a larger bank. The function of these earthworks is unknown. They are too small for raths and the outer banks are higher than the inner platforms. Across the road is a cairn about 50m diameter which may be a scattered cashel. This was not closely inspected.
Dunteige Wedge Tomb (D324079) is about 10m long and is a good example of an Early Bronze Age tomb. It has two chambers forming a gallery running almost the total length of the cairn. There is a small ante-chamber at the front and a large burial chamber. There are good traces of the double wall typical of these structures.
A short distance to the northeast is a large square boulder with a cross with expanded ends inscribed on one vertical face. The megalithic tomb noted to the north (D323084) is a court tomb known as Cairnasegart. It was not closely inspected.
The standing stone in Gowkstown (D314107) was noted in passing. Gowkstown Wedge Tomb (D316108) was examined.
There are substantial remains although most of the burial chamber is filled with rubble. There is a well-defined ante-chamber, a good kerb and at least one capstone in place.
St Patrick's Church Glenarm (D311154) has a good collection of 18th and 19th century gravestones. There are low remains of some buildings which may be the Friary. Inside the church are some decorated fragments from the cloister.
Glore Church (D297132) is very much overgrown and the graveyard has little of interest. Beside the church is a series of roofless rooms which appear to be mortuary houses.
At Tamybuck (D246099) the sides of the wedge-tomb are fairly intact although the back is missing. There are no capstones but the double wall is clearly visible. There is no dividing stone between the ante-chamber and the burial chamber.
Skerry Church (D190089) has a good base batter and is vaulted at the east end. The west gable stands to full height and a portion of the south doorway remains. The graveyard contains little of interest.
Ballymarlagh Court Tomb (D141017) is set in a long cairn and is aligned approximately E-W. There are a number of orthostats remaining in the court at the east end and there are four burial chambers. At the west end of the cairn is a separate burial chamber. The structure is greatly overgrown making exploration difficult.
TOURS