Rathgorman church ruin

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Fragmentary and much overgrown split stone rubble remains of a small rectangular church of possible late medieval construction. The remains are situated on a hill top to the S of a sheltered inlet, E of the Quarterland Road, c.2 miles SE of Killinchy. To the S side of the hill is the remains of a motte. The building appears to have measured roughly 14m x 7.5m externally, with walls of c.1m and c.0.75m.

Historical information

The 1966 ‘Archaeological Survey of Co. Down’ suggests that this church is late medieval (i.e. c.1300s-1400s), but that the presence of a motte near by could indicate that it was part of an earlier (c.1180-1200s) manorial group. It is not certain when the building was finally abandoned, but the presence (in the garden of a near by house), of a broken head stone of c.1800 said to have been taken from near the ruin, suggests that the ground was used for burials until that date at least. However, the site is not marked as a graveyard on the 1834 OS map and there appear to be no visible head stones on the site at present.

The ‘Archaeological Survey’ states that there was probably a doorway to the W end of the church.

References- Secondary sources
1 ‘Archaeological Survey of Co. Down’ (HMSO Belfast 1966), p.309.
2 EHS SM Down 24:10. [The near by motte.]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Fragmentary and overgrown rubble remains of a small church of possible late medieval origin.