Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

Within the graveyard (KK023-072002-) associated with the medieval church of Burnchurch (KK023-072001-), at the base of the external E gable of the C of I church. This graveslab (L 1.765m; Wth 0.71m; T 0.18m) is described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 376) as being decorated with, ‘an eight-pointed cross, in relief, down the centre; and is curiously ornamented with carvings of gothic windows, groining, geometrical figures, &c., also an inverted shield with a cross saltire. It was evidently used as a floor-slab in the old church. The date has been worn away, but the tomb may be safely assigned to the second half of the 15th century. The inscription is raised Old English [Black Letter], and consists of two lines, one at each side of the cross. With the exception of the date, all the gaps occurring in it can be readily filled up’. The inscription is given as, ‘…ard9 F9 Roulandi…z Moryss & joha… Whytte ux’ eius Anno Dni M…. ' which translates as, ‘[Here lie Rich]ard fitz Moryss, and Johanna Whytte, his wife, A.D. 1…’ (ibid.). 

The eight-armed cross is unusual in that only three of the arms terminate with a point, the others having a flat, straight terminal. Immediately below the cross-head there is a large octagonal knop. The cross-shaft continues to the base of the graveslab, perhaps indicating that the slab has been shortened. There is also a stepped band which crosses the cross-shaft towards the base of the slab, however these are more usually positioned higher up, near the top or middle of the cross-shaft. Above the cross-head, across the top of the graveslab are three sunken panels, the centre and dexter panel are pointed and the sinister panel is square. The centre panel is decorated with a raised cross with a central circular boss, representing the sun, with two raised rays extending from the boss on either side of the lower arm of the cross. Below the cross arm on the dexter side there is a hammer and opposite there is a raised V shape, possibly representing a pincer and nails. The dexter panel contains a raised Saltire cross and the sinister panel has two geometric motifs, one an eight-armed cross within a square in the upper dexter angle, the other in the lower sinister angle consists of a tracery pattern within a slightly off-kilter triangle. On either side of the upper portion of the cross-head, and below the top panels, there is a two-light pointed window with tracery in relief. Beside this on the dexter side, on the face of the graveslab, is a motif showing rib-vaulting and beside this there is another interlace pattern. On the sinister side there is a triskele within a circle beside the two-light window. 

Within the graveyard there are other medieval graveslabs (KK023-072004- to KK023-072010-), two side panels from chest tombs (KK023-072008-; KK023-072011-) and the mensa of a chest tomb (KK023-072005-).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

References

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.