Survey Data
Reg No
15403204
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Archaeological, Architectural, Social
Original Use
Gates/railings/walls
In Use As
Gates/railings/walls
Date
1800 - 1840
Coordinates
234409, 239297
Date Recorded
20/10/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Entrance gates serving Balrath graveyard, erected c.1820, comprising a pair of rubble limestone gate piers (on circular plan) supporting wrought-iron bar gates. Rubble limestone boundary wall runs around graveyard (on irregular sub-rectangular plan) with mainly nineteenth century grave markers. Located to the west of Ballinagore adjacent to rural crossroad junction.
Appraisal
An appealing and unassuming set of gate piers with associated wrought-iron gates. Simple vernacular entrance gates of this nature were once very common features of the rural landscape of Westmeath but are now becoming increasingly rare on account of clearance to accommodate modern agricultural needs and road widening schemes etc. They represent good examples of the North Leinster vernacular tradition of rubble stone gate piers on circular plan, a tradition now in terminal decline. It is probably only on account of that fact that these are the entrance gates to a graveyard that has insured their survival. The good quality rubble boundary wall completes this composition, which is a simple but worthy addition to the built heritage of the local area.