Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Font (present location)
Foulkscourt, County Kilkenny, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Foulkscourt
- County
- Kilkenny
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.74958, -7.55490
- SMR number
- KK008-152001-
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 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
This medieval font from the abbey of Fertagh (KK008-047001-) is currently located in the RC church in Johnstown, c. 3km to the SSW of the abbey, where it is recorded as KK008-152001- . The limestone font (max. D 0.4m) is described by Pike (1989, vol. 4, 580-1) in a discussion of medieval fonts. The font has a circular bowl (max. D 0.24m; max. Wth 0.78m; internal Wth 0.615) which is lined by a lead bowl (T 0.03m). Externally the font is 16 sided, each side forming a separate decorated rectangular panel (H 0.24m; Wth 0.14-0.17m). The panels, with plain margins, are dressed with punch tooling and are decorated in raised relief with the following (in sequence): a cross; a three-light pointed window with switch-line tracery; a six-petaled flower motif; an ivy leaf; a sun? or crown of thorns? motif damaged by the insertion of a hook for the font lid with a horizontal interwoven rope motif below; a human head; a pointed geometric motif; four circles, two over two (upper two with two inner concentric circles, lower dexter with one inner concentric circle and lower sinister with a inner cross); an ivy leaf; an interlace motif; a geometric pattern; a four-light pointed window with switch-line tracery; two ivy leaves with stems intertwining; two ivy leaves with stems intertwining; a four-light pointed window with switch-line tracery and a geometric pattern. The bowl tapers towards the supporting pedestal, forming 16 chamfered tapering panels each dressed with punch tooling within plain margins. The pedestal is not original.
See attached photographs:
KK008-152001-_01 General view of font
KK008-152001-_02 General view of font
KK008-152001-_03 General view of font
KK008-152001-_04 Overhead view of bowl of font
KK008-152001-_05 Detail of panel on side of font
KK008-152001-_06 Detail of panel on side of font
KK008-152001-_07 Detail of panel on side of font
Compiled by: Jean Farrelly
Date of revised upload: 25 July 2018
References
Pike, H.K.J. 1989 Medieval fonts. Old Kilkenny Review 4, no. 1, 572-82, 597-8.
Nearby in the register
- Architectural featureunder 1 mi
- Crucifixion plaqueunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Architectural featureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.