Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Rathaspick, County Laois, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Rathaspick
- County
- Laois
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.92885, -7.07060
- SMR number
- LA025-023003-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesNational Library of ScotlandDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1790 map "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1790 · Composite: Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1811 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1869 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Ireland 16 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1942 · Sheet 349 - Third Edition (Layered) - Ordnance Survey of Ireland, One inch to the mile… (National Library of Scotland)
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Not marked on the 1839 or the 1909 eds OS 6-inch maps. In 1846 the Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland recorded that, 'The monastic ruins (LA025-023001-/002-/003-/004-) of Rathasbuck [Rathaspick], the Bishop's fort [LA025-022----), on the estate of Sir William Grace, Bart., formerly presented an interesting object from the house of Gracefield. Its ivy-mantled walls, high belfry, and large eastern window, were conspicuous in the scenery at the distance of about half-a-mile to the north. From the materials of these ruins, the adjoining church of Rathasbuck parish has lately been erected, which, in common with most buildings of the kind in this country, wants the characteristic appendage of a comfortable vicarage-house. Under the site of buildings connected with the former church (LA025-023001-), three vaulted chambers continued, until the year 1813, in perfect preservation, in one of which was a well (LA025-023003-) of remarkably fine spring water' (ibid.). No visible surface remains.
Anon (1846) The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland, 1844-45. 3 Volumes. A. Fullarton and Co., Dublin, London, and Edinburgh.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload/revision: 16 January 2012
Nearby in the register
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Souterrainunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.