Church

The National Monuments Service's description

The name Templenacroha suggests an ancient church dedicated to the Holy Cross (Grattan Flood 1915, 3; Orpen 1934, 59). A small rectangular structure (dims. c. 15m N-S; c. 10m E-W) is marked on the 1839 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and described as the 'Site of Church'. It is situated on a rise of a broad plateau. This is a small triangular, grass-covered area (dims. c. 50m E-W; c. 40m N-S) with the apex at N defined by field banks at NE and NW and by an E-W road at S. There are no visible remains of any structure, enclosure or burial at ground level. A millstone had been found on the site, and the site is regarded locally as a children’s burial ground. It is also thought locally that the roads run through the site, so that the enclosure (WX030-023----) on the S side of the road could be part of the church site.
A geophysical survey conducted for the Raheen Development Association and aided by the Heritage Council produced evidence of a fosse forming an arc at the W edge of the triangle W-N. Within the triangle the survey provided evidence of a large rectangular masonry structure (dims. c. 20m E-W; c. 13m N-S) that is robbed in places. It was divided into a long N chamber (L c. 20m; Wth c. 5m) and had a chamber (dims. c. 8m N-S; c. 6m E-W) at the SE angle. (Bonsall and Gimson 2004; Stafford 2004-05)

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.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload/revision: 16 August, 2012

References

Orpen, G.H. 1934 Charters of earl Richard Marshal of the forests of Ross and Taghmon. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 64, 54-63.

Bonsall, A. and Gimson, H. 2004 Ruined church (Site WX30:22), Templenacroha, County Wexford. Unpublished report, Earthsound archaeological geophysics.

Stafford, E. 2004-5 Church site at Templenacroha. Journal of the Wexford Historical Society 20, 197-202.

Flood, W.H. Grattan 1915 History of the Diocese of Ferns. Waterford. Downey.