Tomb - effigial

The National Monuments Service's description

Within the chantry chapel attached to the parish church of Stamullin (ME034-001----) which was built by Robert Preston of Gormanston c. 1460 (O'Neill 2002, 28). The slab (dims 2.3m x 1.17m) depicting a cadaver has been described by Roe (1969, 17-18) as:
Tomb cover only. Stone flat on ground, slightly ‘embanked’ by sloping course of cement all round. Eastern extent of slab touching one end of double effigial tomb and partially obscured by a wooden structure which protects the latter. The slab is rectangular and measures 2.3m long by 1.17m wide; thickness not ascertainable by reason of cement surround. The skeleton effigy is 1.72m tall by 0.46m wide across the shoulders. Each end of the knotted shroud projects beyond the effigy by some 25cm. Though much abraded the relief is still about 9-10cm in height. The chapel itself appears to have been formed by the S aisle of medieval parish church, and separated from the chancel of this by two round-headed bays now built up. Entry to the chapel was also gained by a small pointed doorway on west wall with elegant moulding terminating in carved heads, seemingly early to mid-15th century in date. A few traces of a decorated piscina-aumbry are in the S wall. No references to the cadaver effigy traced.

See attached image of cadaver stone.

Date of upload: 11 February, 2015

References

Roe, H.M. 1969 Cadaver effigial monuments in Ireland. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 99, 1-19.