Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Religious house - Augustinian, of Arrouaise nuns
Gracedieu, County Dublin, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Gracedieu
- County
- Dublin
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Nunnery (in ruins)
- Coordinates
- 53.50928, -6.22138
- SMR number
- DU007-015001-
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 1799 "Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Located in low-lying field of tillage. This site is associated with the Priory of St. Mary which was endowed for nuns by John Comyn, archbishop of Dublin, c. 1190 (Gwynn & Hadcock 1988, 311, 371). The convent of Arroasian nuns moved from Lusk to Gracedieu after 1195 AD. All that survives of the nunnery is the SE corner containing a segmental arched doorway and vaulted passage. It is built of roughly coursed masonry. There is a recess in S wall of entrance. The south wall extends intermittently (L c. 18-20m). Significant vegetation growth. St Bridget's well lies W of site (DU007-015003-) and Lady well in field to S (DU007-015004-). Excavations to the W of the nunnery exposed remains of three structures; a medieval building which had been demolished in the 17th century defined by two substantial, earth-bonded walls (int dims. L 17m, Wth 13m; Wth 1m) rising to two courses and built directly on a cobbled surface. Also exposed were the foundations of side walls of a possible post-medieval house/farm (L 7.3m, Wth 4m, T 0.7m) a cobbled surface, likely to represent a laneway (Wth 6m) bounded by a lintel drain and a ditch which fed a millrace to the S of the site (Gowen 1989, 16-17).
Compiled by: Geraldine Stout
Updated by: Christine Baker
Date of upload: 29 November 2014
References
Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R.N. 1970 (Reprint 1988) Medieval religious houses of Ireland. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.
Gowen, M. 1989b Inventory of all archaeological features and sites revealed during construction, Bord Gáis Eireann, Northeastern Pipeline, Phase 2. (Unpublished)
Gowen, M. 1989c Kilshane. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1988: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 17. Bray. Wordwell.
Gowen, M. 1989d Westereave. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1988: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 15. Bray. Wordwell.
Gowen, M. 1989a Gracedieu. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1988: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 15, 16-17.Bray. Wordwell.
Nearby in the register
- Graveslabunder 1 mi
- Graveslabunder 1 mi
- Burial groundunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.