Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on high ground with commanding views in all directions except to N where it is overlooked by higher ground. No surface remains visible of medieval church of Leny. The 1302-06 papal taxation of the diocese of Meath valued the church of ‘Lene’ in the deanery of Mullingar at 9 marks annually (Cal. doc. Ire., 259). The medieval church is depicted on the 1656-9 Down Survey map of Corkaree barony (NLI MS 723-4) and on Sir William Petty’s map of 1685. Present early 19th century C of I church ruins stands in N quadrant of rectangular-shaped graveyard (WM011-028001-) possibly built on site of medieval church of Leny. In 1810 the church of Leny was described as in the process of being rebuilt (Carlisle 1810). Described in 1980 as ‘a rectangular church with a square tower at the west end. The church appears to be of 18th century or early 19th century date. The walls of the church and tower are rendered with pebbledash. There is a chancel at the east end and an aisle on the north side both built of roughly dressed limestone both seemingly of mid or late 19th century date. The windows are all of 19th century date. The east window being of 3 lights with tracery above. There is no trace of medieval remains’ (SMR File 07/10/1980). In 1966 aerial photographs show that the church still had its roof intact (CUCAP APE035/036).
Leny Church described by the National Inventory of Archiectural Heritage as following; ‘Freestanding Church of Ireland church, built c.1817, comprising four-bay hall with attached three-stage tower on square-plan to the west with a raised parapet with English-style crenellations. Later nineteenth century single-storey chancel and vestry to east. Now out of use. Originally with pitched roof (now missing) with raised limestone verges. Roughcast rendered walls with projecting cut stone string courses to tower. Snecked limestone construction to chancel. Pointed-arched window openings with cut stone sills and remains of stained glass windows. Triple-light Geometric window to east gable. Pointed segmental-headed doorcase to south face of tower with chamfered cut limestone surrounds. Round opening over to first stage of tower containing timber quatrefoil and pointed-arched openings above to belfry with remains of timber Y-tracery and timber louvered vents. Set back from the road in own grounds and surrounded by graveyard with mostly nineteenth century grave markers. Rubble stone boundary wall encloses the church and associated graveyard with a pair of decorative cast-iron gates mounted on square cut stone piers. Built in a very prominent position on hill overlooking the village of Bunbrosna with associated rectory to northwest’ (www.buildingsofireland.ie).

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of revised upload: 20 July 2017

References

Carlisle, N. 1810 A topographical dictionary of Ireland. Printed for William Miller, Albemarle Street, by William Savage, Bedford Bury. London.

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.

CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com

Cal. doc. Ire. - Calendar of documents relating to Ireland 1171-1307, ed. H.S. Sweetman (5 vols., London, 1875-86).