Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In level pasture c. 135m NE of the E-flowing River Liffey. According to Killanin and Duignan (1967, 102), ‘St. James’ Church [KD029-005001-] and its graveyard [KD029-005004-] lie inside what was a large bivallate ring-enclosure (an early monastic site?’ The SW, W and N sections of an enclosing feature are recorded on the 1st ed. (1838) of the OS 6-inch map as two curving parallel embankments (est. max. Wth c. 25m) bordering a small stream flowing into the Liffey. While the enclosing elements are not shown at NE, their former continuation in this direction, until truncated by a road, is indicated by two parallel dashed lines (est diam. of enclosure c. 200m NE-SW). Vestiges of this possible enclosure are indicated on the latest ed. (1939-40) of the OS 6-inch map as a tree-clad scarp at SW, a pond at W and by dashed parallel lines WNW-NNE. The small stream has since dried up, but a curving depression (Wth c. 18m; D 1m) marks its former line W-N. The SW sector is overgrown with trees, while a second dried up curving watercourse may have marked the enclosing limits E-SE-S.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 27 August 2013

References

Killanin, M.M. and Duignan, M.V. 1967 (2nd ed.) The Shell guide to Ireland. London. The Ebury Press.