Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Kill is likely to have originated in an early monastic foundation (KD019-008002-), and although no visible surface traces survive, the OSL (Herity 2002, 23 (65)) suggest the monastery lay on the site of, or near, the 19th century St John's Church. Bradley et al (1986 vol. 3, 296-8) agree and suggest that the long, sweeping bend in the road, to SW, W and N of the church may reflect the line of an early ecclesiastical enclosure. In 1993, pre-development archaeological test-trenching (Licence no. 93E0059: www.archaeology.ie) led to further testing in 1996 (Licence no. 96E079: www.archaeology.ie) and the discovery of portion of a probable ecclesiastical enclosure. A broad, U-shaped fosse (Wth 4.3m; D 1m) was found running roughly E-W (traceable L c. 25m) c. 45m to the SW of St John's Church, but no associated finds were uncovered. Its presence suggests that the sweeping bend in the road to the SW and W of the church may have been curved to avoid the enclosure's line, or may represent the line of a second, outer enclosing element.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011

References

Herity, M. (ed.) 2002 Ordnance Survey Letters Kildare. Dublin. Four Masters Press.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1986 Urban Archaeological Survey - County Kildare (4 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.