Survey Data
Reg No
21900906
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Graveyard/cemetery
Date
1800 - 1820
Coordinates
120530, 150673
Date Recorded
07/09/2008
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Freestanding remains of Board of First Fruits style Church of Ireland church, built c. 1810, comprising three-stage square-profile tower adjoining remaining wall of church. Roughcast rendered walls with sections of rubble stone and red brick exposed, having cut sandstone buttresses to corners having cornices dividing stages. Cut stone crenellations to top of tower. Tapering rubble stone adjoining church wall, having red brick exposed in sections and having limestone plaque with inscribed lettering to ground floor. Pointed arch opening to south elevation with cut sandstone surround, now blocked up. Pointed arch opening to east elevation, ground floor, having red brick voussoirs, lower half blocked up and covered by inscribed limestone plaque. Square-headed opening to second stage of east elevation with red brick voussoirs, square-headed opening to third stage of east elevation. Pointed arch opening to ground floor, west elevation, having tooled sandstone surround, sill and tracery. Pointed arch openings to all elevations and upper stages of tower with tooled sandstone surrounds, sills, tracery, and louvered vents. Pair of square-profile cut and tooled limestone piers flanking cast-iron single-leaf gate to west of tower. Cut limestone stile to wall to north of gate.
Appraisal
Despite its recessed site, this tower remains a notable feature on the landscape. Though much of the church has been lost, this tower retains much early material of architectural and artistic interest. Its regular form is enhanced and enlivened by its well crafted cut sandstone work, in particular its tooled sandstone window surrounds which add artistic interest. The inscribed limestone memorial plaques add context. Plaque reads: 'Colm Murrogh Vere O'Brien / Beloved on three continents / Born 4 April 1947/ Died 24 March 1985'.