Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a small spit of land now extending into the Blessington Reservoir originally overlooking the confluence of the Liffey and King's River. The church and graveyard represent part of the deserted medieval borough of Burgage More and formed part of the lands of the bishops of Glendalough in the twelfth century (MacNeill 1950, 5-6). The remains consist of the foundations of a rectangular walled structure (dims. c. 11m E-W; c. 9m N-S; T 0.8m; H 0.28m)) within a graveyard (dims. c. 55m E-W x c. 70m N-S) defined by a modern wall and by two old roads to the E and W of the site. The graveyard has been damaged by the waters of the reservoir and there are no visible grave-markers. One high cross and portion of another (WI005-047001 and WI005-047002-) were originally located here but have been removed to the modern, graveyard c. 800m to the N. In 1939 a quantity of animal bone and artefacts were brought to the NMI, and human bone was reburied in the cemetery at Blessington (Cahill and Sikora 2011, Vol. 2, 526). Reynolds (1973, 67) mentions a font at this site but it is now missing and a holy well (WI005-070003-) was also situated here. Burgage More tower house (WI005-070004-) lies close by to the S.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Revised by: Claire Breen

Date of upload: 24 July 2012

References

Cahill, M. and Sikora, M. (eds) 2011 Breaking ground, finding graves - reports on the excavations of burials by the National Museum of Ireland, 1927-2006, 2 vols. Dublin. Wordwell Ltd. in association with the National Museum of Ireland.

MacNeill, C. 1950 Calendar of Archbishop Alen's register c. 1172-1534. Dublin.

Reynolds, M. and Haworth, R. 1973 A preliminary report on monuments of archaeological interest in Co. Wicklow. Dublin. An Foras Forbartha Teoranta.