Penal Mass station

The National Monuments Service's description

Described as 'Monument' on the 1837 ed. of the OS 6-inch map (MA 74), and situated on the NW-facing crest of a hill. This is a conserved rectangular masonry block (dims c. 2.5m x c. 2.5m; H c. 2.5m) surmounted with a Maltese cross and with an arch (int. Wth 1.4m; L 1.4m; H 2.5m) attached to each face. There is an altar recess (Wth 1.05m; H 0.75m; D 0.25m) in each face of the central masonry block with an aumbry (Wth c. 0.2m; H 0.35m; D 0.2m) in the wall of the arch to the right of each recess. The structure is within a circular enclosure (diam. c. 9m) defined by a masonry wall with an entrance gate at NW. It commemorates the use of mass-rocks at this location, providing four altars, one of which would be the most sheltered on any particular occasion. There is an arched gateway (RO008-013003-) (Wth 2.8m; H 2.5m) with a rebate on the NE side in a field wall c. 120m to the W.

See the attached general image taken from the W.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 24 August 2010