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Ballywalter Motte

A small fortification, probably of Norman origin dating to 1200. The motte is a circular mound on a ridge-top site. It is over 4 1/2 metres high with a 2-metre wide ditch enclosing it.

Overlooking the Six Mile Water valley, the mound is on a farm formerly owned by the Shaw family, and is commonly known as 'Shaw's Fort'.

According to the Ordnance Survey Memoirs 'there was an old church and graveyard on the farm of Mr George Shaw, near the fort or mound near his house …'.

There is no evidence of a bailey but there was probably some sort of hall on the ridge nearby.

There is a group of six ancient raths nearby at Ballypalady, 'Town of the Palace or Fort' (grid ref. J 2653 8730) which would have been constructed before the motte but may have connections with it.

Raths (roughly circular banks surrounded by ditches) were used as meeting or dwelling places.

The motte can be viewed from a car lay-by on the A57 heading in the Templepatrick direction, at the Doagh Road and Station Road intersection. This site is on private land and access is restricted to the roadside.