Survey Data
Reg No
40819027
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Artistic, Historical, Social
Original Use
Graveyard/cemetery
In Use As
Graveyard/cemetery
Date
1800 - 1940
Coordinates
229651, 427526
Date Recorded
23/09/2010
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Graveyard (on complex irregular-plan) located to the south of the remains of Rathmullan\St. Mary’s Friary (see RMP DG037-007003-), in use from c. 1800 until c. 1965. Now out of use. Contains collection of upstanding, recumbent and table-type memorials. Metal railings and\or enclosures to some memorials. Freestanding memorial to the south of site commemorating Captain William Pakenham, Captain of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Saldhana (which sunk off Ballymastocker Bay to the north in a storm in December 1811); gravemarker comprises table-type memorial having classical pilasters to corners, and with wrought-iron railings having wrought-iron posts to corners of enclosure with ball finials over. Site surrounded by partially roughcast rendered rubble stone boundary wall. Gateway to the south-west corner of site comprising a pair of ashlar gate piers having pyramidal cut stone coping over, and with wrought-iron gate. Located to the centre of Rathmullan overlooking Lough Swilly across road to the south.
Appraisal
This interesting and atmospheric graveyard contains an interesting collection of gravemarkers of mainly nineteenth century date. It occupies the south side of the site of Rathmullan\St. Mary’s Friary (see RMP DG037-007003-), which was originally founded in 1516 for the Carmelite Order by Owen Roe MacSweeney and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The priory survived intact until 1595 when it was plundered by Bingham; the friars returned and repaired the site afterwards. Andrew Knox, Bishop of Raphoe, obtained possession of the site in 1618, and subsequently converted the nave and transept into a private dwelling. In 1706, the chancel was consecrated by Bishop Pooley as the parish church for Killygarvan. Services were discontinued here when a new parish church, St. Columb's (see 40819009), was built a short distance to the west in 1814. The dwelling probably fell into ruins during the second half of the eighteenth century after the Knox family moved to Prehen, near Derry. The graveyard itself appears to have come into use at the start of the nineteenth century. It contains a collection of upstanding, recumbent, and table-type memorials of mainly nineteenth century date (although there are some memorials dating to the 1960s), some of which are of modest artistic interest. One of the most impressive of these is a table-type memorial with classical pilasters to the corners to the south side of the enclosure. This commemorates Captain William Pakenham (died aged 29), Captain of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Saldhana, which sunk off Ballymastocker Bay to the north in a storm on the 4th of December 1811 with the loss of over 250 lives. (The Saldhana was a warship weighing 951 tons and armed with 36 canons. It was built by Temple and Sons in South Shields in 1809. The ship named after the Battle of Saldhana Bay off South Africa in 1796). William Pakenham was the son of the second Baron Longford of Pakenham Hall, Castlepollard, County Westmeath, an illustrious military family at the time. The graveyard also contains a number of other memorials with naval and military connections including gravemarkers to Commd Fitzmaurice Acton, CMO Royal Navy (died 1920), Walter Edward Elliot (1860-190?), Lieutenant Royal Navy, Darcy Irvine, Commander Royal Navy (‘died at Carralenna in 1907’), Colonel John Hewitt Jellett CMC, Royal Artillery (died 1832?), and Colonel Arn(old?) Shrewsbury Montgomery (died at Fort Royal Rathmullan in 1924). This interesting site is an interesting addition to the built heritage and social history of Rathmullan, and forms part of an interesting complex along with the remains of the friary to the centre of Rathmullan. The simple rubble stone boundary walls, and the fine gateway to the south-west corner of the site with ashlar gate piers add to the context and setting.