Religious house - Augustinian canons

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated towards the bottom of an E-facing slope, and c. 50m S of the chapter house of Ferns cathedral (WX015-003003-). Dermot Mc Murrough founded St Mary's Abbey for Augustinian canons c. 1158-62, although it may have been earlier (O’Keeffe 1997, 63). It was burned in 1159 or 1166, but Dermot rebuilt it and he was buried there in 1171. The abbey was plundered and burnt again by Irish forces during the Bruce wars (c. 1317). The position of abbot was hotly disputed in the mid-15th century. William Doyle was the last abbot at its suppression in 1538 when it was described as a church and belfry, dormitory, chapter-house, hall and other buildings with c. 600 acres and other interests. In 1583 it was granted to Thomas Masterson. (Gwynne and Hadcock, 1970, 175-6)
The N wall of the nave (ext. dims 16.4m E-W; c. 9m N-S) and chancel (ext. dims 6.35m E-W; 6.67m N-S) survive to the full height (c. 5m) with the foundations of the other walls. A round tower with a square base (Barrow 1979, 196) is attached to the W wall of the nave. It is entered from the nave and a newel stairs rises to a doorway overhead probably leading to a gallery. Above the roof level the tower is round and divided into two levels, the upper with four square lights (Anon. 1864-8, 132). A sacristy with a room overhead beneath an E-W barrel-vault is attached to the N of the chancel. There is ribbed vaulting in the chancel and round-headed recesses in the chancel and the sacristy. The original entrance was probably at the W where the base of a column with two orders is visible at the angle of the nave and tower. Two crude cross-bases are now within the nave. There is no evidence of an enclosure or burial but evidence of the cloister garth (dims c. 21.6m E–W; c. 19.75m N–S) was uncovered in the 19th century attached to the S (Anon. 1909–10, 4–5).
A geophysical survey (15R052) comprising magnetic gradiometry and limited electrical resistance in an area of about 4 ha (c. 10 acres) around the remains produced evidence of the cloister and a field system (ME015-003034-) (Dowling 2015, 10). The abbey is built over the inner of two ditches recorded in the survey that form an ecclesiastical enclosure (wx015-003031-) around the early monastery (WX015-003002-) (ibid. 9). Just SE of the abbey the same survey recorded evidence of an enclosure (WX015-003032-) around a masonry structure (WX015-003033-).

This is a National Monument in state ownership: No. 133.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Cmpiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revision: 22 February, 2019

References

Harbison, P. 1975 (2nd. ed. 1992 reprint) Guide to the national monuments in the Republic of Ireland. Gill and Macmillan, Dublin.

Ffrench, Rev. J. F. M. 1895 Excursions in County Wexford. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 25, 403-11.

Lennox Barrow, G. 1979 The round towers of Ireland: a study and gazetteer. Dublin. The Academy Press.

Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R.N. 1970 (Reprint 1988) Medieval religious houses of Ireland. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.

Leask, H.G. 1955 (Reprint 1977 and 1987) Irish churches and monastic buildings, vol. I. The first phases of the Romanesque. Dundalk. Dundalgan Press.

Anon. 1909-10 78th annual report of the Office of Public Works. Unpublished report.

O'Keeffe, T. 1997 Diarmait Mac Murchada and Romanesque Leinster. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 127, 52-79.

Anon. 1864-8 Proceedings and papers. Journal of the Royal Society of Antquaries of Ireland, vol. 8, 109-39.

Dowling, G. 2015 Geophysical investigations at Ferns, Co. Wexford. Licence No. 15R042. Unpublished report, The Discovery Programme