Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Gelvin Graveyard
Gortgarn, Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Graveyard
- Date of construction
- 1840 - 1859
- Address
- Gelvin Graveyard, Legavallon Road, Dungiven, Co Londonderry
- Townland
- Gortgarn
- Council
- Causeway Coast and Glens
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.96357, -6.86580
- Date of survey
- 19 January 2000
- HB reference
- HB02/07/006
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1838 "Ireland, north sheet." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Graveyard of former Gelvin Roman Catholic Church. The Graveyard is divided in two parts by path leading to former church from Legavallon Road. Recent work has been carried out with the ground levelled and sown out in grass. Several headstones have been retained in each part and both parts fenced, though some of the fencing adjacent to the former church is to be completed. Neat iron gates have been added. Several of the headstones are well executed. The wall to the road frontage has been rebuilt in concrete blockwork faced with rubble schist.
Historical information
This graveyard was probably established after 1845 when a new church was erected here c1845 replacing an earlier church at Gortgarn further to the east. The earliest legible headstone is dated 1847.
References
Primary Sources
1. O.S. map 1st Rev. 1856-58 Londonderry sheet 25.
2. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland – Parishes of Co Londonderry IV p.8
Ed. Angélique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1993).
(This reference refers to earlier church).
Secondary Sources
1. M O’Kane – The Early Revival of Catholic Church Architecture p. 138
(Dissertation, unpublished, Queen’s University 1978)
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
A neatly presented graveyard, recently renovated, with several good Victorian and early 20th century headstones
(This record to be read in conjunction with HB02/07/014.)
Nearby in the register
- Former Gelvin Church & SchoolStoreunder 1 mi
- Ballymacallion Former SchoolSchoolunder 1 mi
- Middle Gelvin BridgeBridgeunder 1 mi
- Bridge1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.