Dromore Motte and Bailey

Dromore Mound or Dromore Motte and Bailey as it is commonly known is probably Dromore’s most recognisable feature. It was built by Sir John de Courcy after the Norman Conquest in the 13th Century. The bailey or lower courtyard was said to have been protected by a palisade and on the mound itself was thought to have been an archery tower, which gave good vision and a reasonable field of fire. The height and well-defined slopes provide unsurpassed views of the town and the upper Lagan Valley. The motte and bailey is a fine example of Anglo-Norman fortification, dating from the Middle Ages (AD1200 - 1600). It is situated on high ground within a semi circular loop in the River Lagan. It consists of a large motte, 40 feet in height, and a rectangular bailey, which is 100 feet wide.

Dromore