Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

In the centre of Gowran, set back S of the Main Street. A rectangular graveyard (dims. c. 110m E-W; c. 50m N-S), enclosed by a stone wall, associated with the medieval parish church of St Mary (KK020-060006-). A rental account of Gowran which appears in the Calendar of Ormond Deeds c. 1550 mentions ‘the churchyard gate’ (Curtis 1941, vol. 5, 46 (25)). White’s map of Gowran, 1710/11 suggests there was a lane running up to the graveyard from the main street and this is clearly shown on the 1st (1839) ed. OS map where the street front is occupied on either side of the lane by a row of houses which had disappeared by the 1900 revision. The lane is preserved as the stone lined avenue leading to the N side graveyard gate. A medieval college (KK020-060010-) to accommodate four priests/chaplains was located in the SE angle of the graveyard.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 March 2021

References

White, J. 1710/11 A survey of the towne and lands of Gowrane in the County of Kilkenny belonging to Mr Lewis Chaigneau of Dublin merch[an]t made in the presence of Mr David Chaigneau Mr John Bayly Mr John Sandbeach Sam[ue]l Bingham James Quigly and Mr James White the surveyor; and the said lands contain arable pasture and meadow one thousand two hundred ninety seven acres thirty five perches plantation measure over and above all deductions for intermixt lands and common high roads as appeareth by a table of reference hereunto. Surveyed in the month of March 1710/11 by a scale of 20 p[er]chs. Ja: White. NLI MS map 21.F.55 (4).

Curtis, E. 1941 (ed.) Calendar of Ormond Deeds 1547-1584 A.D. Vol. 5. Dublin. The Stationery Office.