Banagher Old Church – Tower

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A rectangular roofless stonebuilt structure adjacent to the old Banagher church. Walls on 3 sides are approx. 2100mm high while the 4th side to the S W is approx. 600mm high. There are no openings in the walls except for an apparent doorway in the middle of the N E Side with a modern framed door. Internally the space measures 5m by 4m approx. Walls are built of random rubble sandstone in a neat fashion with well formed quoins. There is a small recess at floor level on the internal face of the N E wall and to the W of the doorway.

The tower is sited below the knoll on which stands the old church ruins and on the west side and just outside the boundary wall to the old graveyard.

Historical information

Whether this structure was the remains of a tower or dwelling or part of a monastic foundation is a matter for speculation. The Historic Monuments of Northern Ireland suggests the remains of a mediaeval priest’s strong house or tower. The O.S. Memoirs states, when there was more of the ruin remaining, that “At about half the height of the western gable a stone spout projects. The entrance was very high up in the east end, probably by stone stairs. It is said to have a monastery of Carmelites, of White Friars ……..”. Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary refers to it “It is also said that a monastery, of which St O’Heny was abbot, formerly existed here; but though there are, near the church, the remains of a small square building of more recent erection and evidently used for domestic purposes, which is called the abbey, no mention occurs in historic records of any religious establishment ………..” Gwynn and Hadcock makes a very brief reference to Banagher suggesting an eleventh cent. foundation.

John McCloskey in Statistical Reports of Six Derry Parishes 1821,makes similar comment to the O.S. Memoirs. Indeed the latter’s comment is taken from McCloskey. Colonel Cary, according to the O.S. Memoirs carried out excavations, presumably in the 18th cent., seeking treasures, and discovered foundations below 9 feet of the present floor level.
S M No. LDY 30-29

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1830 Londondery sh. 30
2. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry, 1833-35, 1838
Ed by Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliam Q.U.B. p. 6, 41
3. Historic Monuments of Northern Ireland, DOE NI p. 126
4. John McCloskey Statistical Reports of Six Derry Parishes 1821 p. 76.

Secondary Sources
1. Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland p. 176
2. Gwynn and Hadcock Mediaeval Religious Houses of Ireland p. 374

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Interesting remains, if scanty, of an 11th cent. monastic foundation, kept in a very good state of preservation.