Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Font
Baronstown Demesne, County Westmeath, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Baronstown Demesne
- County
- Westmeath
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 53.60318, -7.51497
- SMR number
- WM011-040004-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Post-reformation octagonal-shaped limestone font, partially broken, lying on the surface of the graveyard between C of I church and Malone family mausoleum to the ESE of church. According to the Urban Survey of Ireland (Bradley et. al. 1985, 108-09) ‘the church (WM011-040002-) of Kilbixy granted by Geoffrey de Costentin to Ralph Petit, archdeacon of Meath, in a charter of 1192/1218 is to be identified with this church, established before the coming of the Normans (Clarke 1941, 90). The parish church of Kilbixy is specifically mentioned in 1259 (Clarke 1941, 122), 1492 (Cal. papal letters 1978, 430) and 1540 (White 1943, 277). In 1682 Piers (1981, 77) described it as ‘the remains of an ancient and well built church, the mother of many churches and chapels about it, which had at the west end a very well built high tower or steeple’. The present church, which is in ruins, was constructed c.1800. Octagonal limestone font (dims. H 0.48m; ext. diam. 0.55m; int. diam. 0.42m), north-east of the church. Less than half of the basin survives but it appears to lack a drainage hole. There were four wide and four narrow panels. The lower panels are chamfered inwards. Roe (1968, 123) regarded it as of post-Reformation date'.
To see a 3D model of the font visit; https://skfb.ly/ozrzN
Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of revised upload: 17 June 2015
References
White, N.B. 1943 Extents of Irish monastic possessions, 1540-1541. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.
Cal. papal letters - Calendar of entries in the papal registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland: papal letters, 1198-1484 [etc.] (London, 1893-)
Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H. 1985 Urban archaeological survey - county Westmeath. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.
Clarke, M.V. 1941 Register of the priory of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Tristernagh. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.
Piers, H. 1981 A chorographical description of the county of Westmeath written AD 1682. Meath Archaeologial & Historical Society.
Roe, H.M. 1968 Medieval fonts of Meath. Meath Archaeological and Historical Society.
Nearby in the register
- Ecclesiastical enclosureunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Cross-slab (present location)under 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.