Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Ambrosetown, County Wexford, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ambrosetown
- County
- Wexford
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- St. Ambroses Well
- Latest-edition OS map
- St. Ambroses Well
- Coordinates
- 52.25033, -6.66859
- SMR number
- WX046-018002-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
University Library, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamUniversity Library, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamDavid 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
Situated at the bottom of a steep W-facing slope and c. 30m NW of the graveyard (WX046-018003-) in an area that has been quarried. A pattern was held at the well on an unknown date according to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 (Herity 2014, 140), although he thought the dedication unlikely. St. Ambrose was a well-connected Roman of the 4th century who became bishop of Milan in AD 374, and was renowned for his anti-Arian views. Support is given to O'Donovan's view in a document of 1408 where Thomas Fourneys, rector of Rathmore, Co. Meath (ME024-017001-), is also described as the chaplain of ‘the Blessed Mary of [Am]brosetoun, diocese of Ferns’ (Pers. Com. Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich, 05/05/2021). The church and well were probably dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. No trace of the well remains.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 19 August, 2013
Amended: 6 May 2021
References
Herity, M. (ed.) 2014 Ordinance Survey letters, Co. Wexford. Four Masters Press, Dublin
Nearby in the register
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.