Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Court Tomb
Ballymacdermot, Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Archaeological Site
- Date of construction
- Pre 1600
- Address
- Court Tomb, Ballymacdermot, Newry, Co Down
- Townland
- Ballymacdermot
- Council
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.15419, -6.36986
- Date of survey
- 05 June 2000
- HB reference
- HB16/13/015
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 1636 "Vltoniae Orientalis Pars" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Prominently sited on a SE-facing slope of Balymacdermot Mountain on E side of road. The cairn comprises a trapezoidal rubble fieldstone platform aligned with the slope and now grassed over. At its NW end is an open area defined by a half-circle of quarried upright granite slabs. The focus of this 'court' is a stone-lined chamber set into the middle of the cairn and aligned with its axis. The passage is subdivided into three small chambers by means of granite slabs. There are also traces of the granite lintels which formerly covered them. Originally the cairn would have been higher, covering all but the court area at the front.
Historical information
Of Neolithic date (c.5000-2500 BC).
Primary Sources:
1. Site & Monuments Record - Arm 26:15
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
A classic example of a Neolithic court tomb (also called a horned cairn) in a prominent situation
Nearby in the register
- 15 Seavers RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- 14 Seavers RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- Cottage SW of Bernish BridgeHouseunder 1 mi
- Heath HallHouseunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.