Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
St Bline's Well
Ballintemple, Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Well
- Date of construction
- 1900 - 1919
- Address
- St Bline's Well, Ballintemple Road, Newry, Co Armagh
- Townland
- Ballintemple
- Council
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.13503, -6.41529
- Date of survey
- 05 June 2000
- HB reference
- HB16/13/044
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 LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1881 "Ireland to Illustrate the Military Condition of the Country." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Prominently situated on an east-facing grassy slope on the side of Slieve Gullion. Accessed by a footpath from a laneway just north of Killevy Church.
A white-painted concrete shrine has been erected over the actual well which is defined by granite slabs to each side. The shrine is divided to front into three sections by slender fluted timber columns with flat caps. The middle one is slightly higher and is surmounted by a white cross; it contains a figurine of the Virgin Mary. Inscribed on the top of the middle section is "Deus Meus et [??]nia". Along the base are painted the following: "AD 43BC" (at left), "1929" (at right), and "Tobar Naoim Oiachaio" (across the bottom).
The shrine is accessed by a flight of concrete-flagged steps. Part-way up on the left side is what appears to be a second, smaller well.
Immediately south is a small painted concrete cross set into a concrete base. It bears the inscription "IHS".
Immediately north is a thorn tree bedecked with pieces of cloth.
Historical information
First explicitly depicted on the 1906-07 OS map. Probably dates to religious revivalism of around 1900.
SMR number Arm 029:003
Primary sources:
1. OS 6” map, Co Armagh sheet 29, 1906-07 (PRONI – OS 6/3/29/3).
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
An unusual site in a spectacular setting for a monument of local interest.
Nearby in the register
- Dwelling 290m East of 32 Ballintemple RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- Killevy ChurchesChurchunder 1 mi
- 32 Ballintemple RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- 30 Ballintemple RoadHouseunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.