Survey Data
Reg No
15403801
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Archaeological, Architectural, Historical, Social
Original Use
Church/chapel
Historical Use
Graveyard/cemetery
Date
1620 - 1660
Coordinates
238167, 236684
Date Recorded
04/11/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Graveyard on irregular rectilinear plan having cut stone gravestones dating from c.1620 to c.1890. Previously in use as a Church of Ireland burial site. Graveyard now overgrown and out of use. Associated with a ruinous hall-type church on rectangular plan, built c.1700, having rubble limestone walls and brick dressings to pointed-arched, square-headed and segmental-headed openings and originally with a pitched roof, now gone. Crypt beneath church with carved limestone plaque mounted on exterior east facing wall bearing coat of arms. Site enclosed by a rubble limestone wall with main entrance gates to the west side comprising a pair of rubble limestone gate piers on square-plan with dressed corner stones/quoins supporting a wrought-iron flat bar gate. Flight of cut stone steps and pedestrian entrance adjacent to the north. Located to the west of Tyrrellspass and adjacent to the southwest of a ruinous circular tower house.
Appraisal
A very interesting graveyard and a ruinous church, which has picturesque appeal and are of high historic merit to the local community. The variety of finely carved headstones found in this complex warrants artistic merit for the workmanship required in their construction. This substantial collection of headstones also provides an interesting insight into changing styles and tastes over a long period of time. The earliest headstones date to the first part of the 1600s when 'shouldered' and 'sweet-heart' shapes took precedent. More elaborate and decorative examples followed leading to 'pointed' heads, elaborate Celtic crosses and plain headstones with highly decorative engravings, all of which can be found here. The latest headstones are from the end of the nineteenth century date and are probably Roman Catholic graves judging by the surnames. The crypt also bears a decorative coat of arms with scrolls, leaf and animal motifs, requiring a high level of craftsmanship. This coat of arms could well be that of the Low Family, who resided in a highly unusual circular tower house (WM038-015---) (originally in the possession of the Madden Family), now in ruins, a short distance to the northeast of this site. The church itself appears to have been built c.1700 but may have the fabric of an earlier church onsite indicated on Down Survey Parish Map (c.1656). This church was previously in use as a Church of Ireland church in the eighteenth century and was probably deconsecrated when a new Church of Ireland church, Christ Church (15403812), was built c.1834 in the townland of Cornaher a short distance to the southeast.