Historic town

The National Monuments Service's description

The medieval settlement of Taghmon developed around the site of a monastery (WX041-008003-) founded by St Munna in the 6th century. The monastery seems to have been defunct by the end of the 11h century, although a convent of nuns (WX041-008004-) had been established at Taghmon before 1170 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 44-5, 324). Taghmon was reserved as a seigneurial manor by Strongbow and it encompassed the parishes of Taghmon and Coolstuff, while the extensive forest of Taghmon (Orpen 1934) was also attached to it (Hore 1900-11, vol. 5, 417-8). In the division of the Leinster lordship after 1247 the manor passed to Agatha Mortimer, while her major possessions were in Laois-Offaly (Colfer 2002, 72). An inquisition of 1305 found that the burgesses held 5 carucates of land from the manor at a rent of over £8, and an inquisition of 1358 found that Roesia, the widow of Robert Meyler of Duncormick (WX046-034001-), owned 21 burgages in the W part of the town (Hore 1900-11, vol. 5, 417-8). In an inquisition of 1420 it was found that the burgage rent of £8 was due to Sir Gilbert Talbot (ibid. 419).

The settlement survived through the middle ages, although it never had a charter and was probably not fortified. In 1548 William Hore of Harperstown (WX041-024----) was granted the castle of Taghmon, and in 1600 Taghmon was burned by disaffected Kavanaghs (ibid. 414). According to the Civil Survey five landowners including William Hore owned 840 acres at Taghmon (Simington 1953, 83), and Taghmon was still possessed by the Harperstown Hores in 1684 when the town was described by Robert Leigh as an ancient corporation governed by a master and burghers, but at that time it consisted of a ruined castle, a parish church in repair, the ruins of two chapels, and a dozen cabins (Hore 1858-8, 463-4).

Taghmon is located on a gentle SE-facing slope, but its position on the old road from Wexford town to New Ross ensured it some prosperity until the establishment of the more direct New Line (N25) in the1830s began its decline (Lewis 1839, vol. 2, 586). The New Line from Wexford town to Wellington Bridge and Duncannon (R733) that was built later in the 19th century and which by-passed Taghmon c. 4km to the S, further isolated the settlement. The remains consist of the site of the site of St. Munna’s church (WX041-008003-), the high cross (WX041-008002-), the sites of the parish church (WX041-008015-), the nunnery (WX041-008004-) which may be St. Bridget’s church, and Our Lady’s church (WX041-008007-), together with their graveyards. There is also the tower house (WX041-008001-), and two holy wells (WX041-008006-; WX041-008005-). Excavations within the village have produced medieval material at three locations (WX041-008008-; WX041-008009-; WX041-008016-). Archaeological monitoring (15E0412) of a gas pipeline in Area 12 recorded a number of stone culvers and cobbled surfaces and a large ditch (Wth of top 4m; D 1m) at the E of the Main Street that is likely to be the ecclesiastical enclosure of the early monastery. It was filled with wet dark brown/grey clayey silt with some sand but no dating material was recovered (Sutton 2018: excavations.ie: 2015: 422).

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: 20 March, 2013
Amended: 19 October 2020

References

Hore, H. F. 1858-9 A chorographic account of the southern part of the county of Wexford, written Anno 1684: by Robert Leigh, Esq., of Rosegarland, in that county. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 5, 17-21, 451-67.

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.

Colfer, B. 2002 Arrogant trespass: Anglo-Norman Wexford 1169-1400. Enniscorthy, Duffry Press

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

Sutton, B. 2018 Archaeological monitoring along the Wexford feeder main. Areas 1-13. Licence No. 15E0412. Unpublished report, Irish Archaeological Consultancy