Balteagh Old Graveyard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Scant ruinous remains of former church in graveyard opposite Balteagh Church of Ireland Church. A rectangular building aligning east to west. 800mm high rubble stone walls remain on the east and south sides though the ground level is banked to the top of these on the exterior. Near the west end a dip in the bank indicates the position of a former entrance door.

In the graveyard surrounding, are memorials from the 18th 19th and 20th centuries. On a rise in ground level near the southern corner of the graveyard are some memorials of greater age with the remains of interesting designs inscribed. One stone has two semi-circular heads adjoining, another dips to two recesses along its top edge. One broken tomb near here is the resting place of Pastor James O’Conron, Pastor of Clady in Co Donegal’ early in the 19th century.

Historical information

“The date of its erection or name of its founder is not preserved by tradition. It only mentions that it was the first in this parish after the introduction of Christianity into it. It is built of stones averaging from one to one and a half feet in length, irregular in their shapes and not very closely fitted… A great part of the walls are yet covered in plaster. Of the windows only two remain at present vis the west window and one in the south gable. The first of these is of a large size and ornamented with sandstone art work but has been filled up since its construction…

This church was in a tolerable state of repair up to November 1777 at which period a violent storm took place which carried off many of the slates off the roof and otherwise injured it. Repairs were neglected and in a short time the church was unfit for service and some of the inhabitants began to steal away the timber of the pews and roof, all of oak. About 1780 the Rev Robert Magee, rector, had the roof taken off altogether and thence forward officiated in the Glebe House on Sundays. All the clergy who succeeded him officiated in Newtown Limavady and other places of the neighbourhood until the erection of the present church. To this there was an exception i.e. that the first Sunday after his installation each incumbent officiated in the roofless parish church, which act was necessary to make his appointment valid” (Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol.9 p. 5). A drawing and plan of the church is included in the memoirs. The replacement church was built in 1815 see HB02/08/007. See also HB02/08/027 Rhellick Old Graveyard, for legend of church’s founding by ravens.

References:
Leslie - Derry & Raphoe Parishes and Clergy
Historic Monument ref: SMR LDY 17:50

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A historic graveyard well maintained containing some interesting headstones and the clear plan of the former church. Recorded as a historic monument.