Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a slight rise in average pasture-land with Rectory or Glebe House standing on SW quadrant of possible ecclesiastical enclosure, modern farmyard immediately to W. The 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map shows that the curving bank of the enclosure of the N side represents the N boundary of the glebe lands associated with Kilmore Church (WM002-015001-). These glebe lands and the medieval church of Kilmore are depicted on the 1654-9 Down Survey map of Street parish (NLI, Ms 723-4). On this map the medieval church is depicted standing to the S of the glebe land which measures 5 acres in size. The precise location of Kilmore church has not been identified. Present remains consist of a large oval or sub-circular shaped area (approx. diam. 57m N-S; 65m E-W) defined by a low poorly preserved earthen bank best preserved from N-E where it has been incorporated into a modern field boundary. The bank has been reduced to a scarp from E-S-SW while elsewhere it has been levelled. The adjoining farmyard encroaches on the W side of the site destroying the enclosing element in this area. The interior is fairly even with some slight rises. Low scarps to the S & SE of this enclosure visible on Digital Globe aerial photographs are associated with an old avenue leading up to the rectory. According to the landowner several skulls were unearthed near the perimeter of the enclosure while making part of the farmyard to the W. These skulls may belong to a graveyard (WM001-015002-) associated with the medieval church of Kilmore (WM001-015001-).

Compiled by: Frank Coyne & Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 23 November 2016

References

NLI, MS 723-4 - National Library of Ireland, The parish maps of the Down Survey for the County of Westmeath, attested by W. Petty, in 1659. Copied by Daniel O'Brien. A set of 67 maps with accompanying terriers in two volumes, 1786-7. Dublin.