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?

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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....

Slemish

Motte and Bailey

Pennybridge

Michelin

Headless Horseman

Gallahers

Ballymena today