Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Bell Tower
Barnmeen, Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Tower
- Date of construction
- 1900 - 1919
- Address
- Bell Tower, St Colman's RC Church, Longstone Road, Rathfriland, Newry, Co Down, BT34 5BT
- Townland
- Barnmeen
- Council
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.23114, -6.20856
- Date of survey
- 08 July 1999
- HB reference
- HB16/09/016 B
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 1891 "Ireland 16" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Free standing cast iron bell tower located immediately to E of St Colman’s RC Church (HB16/09/016A) and adjacent to parochial house.
Structure rests on a two-stage concrete plinth and comprises four tall cast-iron columns supporting an open iron base with decorative brackets to each side supporting the hand-operated bell.
The dado of each column is fluted with a moulded and foliated frieze. Below their plain capitals are similar foliated bands. Columns have makers name embossed “M. Byrne. Dublin”. The bell carriage (from which the bell hangs) is inscribed ‘M. Byrne Patent Rotary Mountings’. Affixed to one end of the mounting is a slender spoked pulley from which the operating chain hangs.
The bronze bell is inscribed “Ave Maria” / “Rev T. Gallery PP, 1912/ J.O’Byrne Foundry/ James Street Dublin”.
Historical information
Parish Priest believes this structure was erected in 1932 to mark the Dublin Eucharistic Congress. The bell however, is dated 1912.
Primary Sources:
1) Fr Gerry Powell P.P.
2) Date on bell.
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
This cast iron bell tower is an unusual structure. It survives unaltered and is in working order.
Nearby in the register
- St Colmans RC ChurchChurchunder 1 mi
- 90 Newry RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- 5 Greenhill RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- Bridgeunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.