Font

The National Monuments Service's description

The following description is derived from both the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986) and the 'Archaeological Survey of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1991). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007

Situated in St Peter's church (Church of Ireland) and consisting of a massive bowl, well decorated and seated on a modern plinth and base. The bowl is octagonal, formed as two registers with decorated panels, and lined with lead. The panels, which are described and illustrated by Roe (1976, 257-62), are framed by twisted 'vine-stem' mouldings. The font is said to have been broken deliberately by Cromwell in 1649. It was repaired in 1921 and a plaque commemorating this restoration work replaced a broken portion of one of the panels. The upper register of panels have round-headed niches separated by plain pillars and filled with figures. The panels of the lower register, some of which are very badly damaged, all have single niches within which are angels holding scrolls.

This font probably dates from the early sixteenth century. Roe (1976, 261-2) points out that there is a decorated stone fragment, which is similar in style to the font and is possibly part of the stem, situated in the church porch. (JRSAI 1921, 77-8; Roe 1976, 255-62)