Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Listed by Bradley (1985, 83) as a Penal Chapel of possible 17th century date. The ruins of this T-shaped church stand at the W end of the graveyard (WM008-097014-) of St. Mary's parish church (WM008-097002-). On the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map this building is annotated as R. C. Chapel and is shown standing immediately to the W of the medieval ruins of St. Mary's Church (WM008-097002-). The present remains consist of fragments of the N, E, and S wall which are possibly of seventeenth century date. They are ivy-clad and stand to a height of 3-4m with internal dimensions of 26.5m by 5.05m. Some plaster remains on the returns of a late pointed door with cut stone jambs in the S wall. There are two walls running N from the centre of the church for a distance of c. 2.5m - 4.5m with a distance between them of 6.2m. Their function is unclear (Bradley et. al. 1985, 83). Dr Beryl Moore, in her unpublished notes in the County Library, Navan, mentions the existence of a large tablet or possible memorial stone (WM008-097013-) dating from 1616 over the N entrance to the penal chapel (WM008-097007-).

Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 20 November 2013.

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H. 1985 Urban archaeological survey - county Westmeath. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.