Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Megalithic tomb - wedge tomb
Milltown, County Clare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Milltown
- County
- Clare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Dermot and Granias Bed
- Latest-edition OS map
- Dermot & Granias Bed (1921)
- Coordinates
- 52.86773, -8.79044
- SMR number
- CL035-011----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
In improved pasture, on a very gentle ESE-facing slope with reasonable views. The monument survives as described by De Valera and Ó Nualláin (1961, vol. 1, 78, no. 101). It is depicted and named as ‘Dermot & Grania’s Bed’ on all OS historic mapping and is shown on the 1840 edition of the OS 6-inch map within the rectangular plot of a small building. According to Curry in 1839 (OSL, vol. 2, 159), it once formed part of a pig-sty near Green’s House. A well-preserved wedge tomb (2.2m N-S; 3.15m E-W; max. H 1.3m) defined by an orthostat to N, S, E and W. The capstone is a substantial subrectangular megalith covered in sod (H 0.25m) which accentuates the height of the monument. The weight of the capstone is borne only by the N and S orthostats, which taper down slightly from W to E. A small pinning stone is lodged between the S orthostat and the underside of the capstone. The interior is a rectangular area (1.6m N-S; c. 2.26m E-W) which is open at the NE and SE corners where the orthostats do not touch. The base of the interior is flat and contains numerous loose stones, probably derived from modern field clearance. An embanked enclosure (CL035-010----) lies 80m to the NNW and the sites and scant remains of several megalithic tombs lie in the vicinity to N and E.
The following documents and photos have been uploaded:
CL035-011----_01.pdf Details from Ruaidhrí de Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin, Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume I. County Clare. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1961)
CL035-011----_01.jpg View of wedge tomb from N.
CL035-011----_02.jpg From E.
CL035-011----_03.jpg From S.
CL035-011----_04.jpg From W.
Revised by: Mary Tunney and Alison McQueen
Date of revision: 8 November 2017
References
OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.
de Valera, R. and Ó Nualláin, S. 1961 Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland, vol. 1: County Clare. Dublin. Stationery Office.
Nearby in the register
- Hengeunder 1 mi
- Architectural fragmentunder 1 mi
- Megalithic structureunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.