Architectural fragment

The National Monuments Service's description

St. Kenny's [St. Canice] holy well (WM023-024----) situated in a roughly-D-shaped grove of trees and bushes on flat poorly drained land with church (WM023-025----) and graveyard (WM023-025001-) 240m to SW. Kilkenny Castle (WM023-023----) 330m to WSW and site of levelled abbey (WM023-026----) belonging to the Fratres Cruciferi / Crouched Friars 260m to SSW. A large octagonal-shaped font (WM023-024001-) lies on the ground immediately to the N of well. This font may have come from the medieval church (WM023-025----) or from the abbey site (WM023-026----). Other architectural fragments of various dates have been placed around the perimeter of the well forming a series of stations around the well. The hexagonal shaped base of a cross or font lies to the W of the well, a stone cross (WM023-024002-) possibly a finial cross of the medieval church (WM023-025----) has been placed into the socket of this base. The carving of a winged angel can be seen on a V-shaped architectural fragment which formed the apex of a niche or apex of a hood moulding lying on the ground immediately SE of the well. This fragment came from either the medieval abbey (WM023-026---) or the nearby medieval church (WM023-025----). Immediately to the NNE of the well lying on the surface of the ground there is a large piece of cut stone which appears to be the capital (WM023-024004-) of a column supporting the ribs of a vaulted roof belonging to the nearby medieval abbey (WM023-026---). Unable to locate stone corbel carved with an angel which was recorded in the late 1970s (SMR File). A stone fleur-de-lys cross of post medieval date with socket for metal cross stands immediately SE of the well.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 3 July 2015