Landed Estates
The landed estate was the central feature of Meath’s rural landscape in years gone by. Even today around the county much evidence of Meath’s estates is still clearly visible, such as the beautiful trees inside the estate walls, gate lodges, large entrances, big houses and so much more. Of course the fields that are or were part of landed estates also produce a wealth of other historical information with features such as Ice Houses, Old Windmills, Walled Gardens, Pigeon Houses, Mausoleums, Herd’s Houses, Orchards, Deerparks, hydraulic rams, courtyards, boat houses and many more.
About 13 fields were identified with the special ‘Ha Ha’ feature. A ‘Ha Ha’ is a special wall usually built in the 17th and 18th Century on country estates. They are usually located a distance in front of the main house. Ha-ha walls typically formed a boundary between the estate’s gardens and grounds. These walls were constructed so as to be invisible from the house, ensuring a clear view across the estate. Ha-ha walls consist of a sunken stone wall, its top level with the garden, with a deep ditch on the far side: an effective barrier to livestock.
