Tower of the former Annahilt Church of Ireland

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Free-standing square-plan rubblestone remains of tower to former Annahilt Church, dated 1741, on the grounds of Church of the Ascension (HB19/06/005). Square on plan, located on the east side of Glebe Road within the grounds of Church of the Ascension.

Square-plan rubblestone remains of church tower, approximately one metre tall, filled with rubblestone and having embedded stone plaque to east elevation stating: “Thomas Smyth, Preecentor of, Dromore first, designed and soo, after at his own, proper and sole, expence erected, this church, at Annahilt, Anno Domini, 1741”

To the west elevation is a flight of stone steps and wrought-iron gates to rubblestone piers within the boundary rubblestone wall to the graveyard, opening onto Glebe Road.

Setting
Set on an elevated site to the west end of the graveyard to Annahilt Church of Ireland church, to the east side of Glebe Road at a bend in the road

Historical information

Dated 1741, the Tower was the only reminaing part of the former Annahilt Church to remain standing, prior to its demolition c.1996. Erected in 1768 at the expense of the Marquis of Downshire, the tower was an addition to the west façade of the existing church which was erected in 1741 (Lewis p.26). This replaced an even earlier church on the site, possibly destroyed in 1641. (Rankin p.167) The first edition OS Map of 1833-34 shows the tower with the former church, aligned east-west. The tower formerly abutted a simple rectangular nave at west. By 1858 the second edition OS map indicates that the church has been demolished. The tower is captioned “Tower of Old Church”, and the current church, Annahilt Church of the Ascension (HB19/06/005) erected 1856, is shown located adjacent to the former site.

Harris records the erection of the earlier church to be in 1741and at the expense of parish rector, Archdeacon Thomas Smith. The consecration took place on St Peter’s Day of the same year. He continues with an account of the parish, “There is but one Popish Family in this whole Parish, all the rest of the inhabitants being conformists or dissenters.” He also goes on to describe the wildlife in the surrounding area at the time, “A large bog near this church abounds with grouse, green plover, wild geese in winter, ducks, snipes, curlieus, godwits and plenty of hares.” (p.97)

Rankin state that the former church had been condemned by the architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, William Fullerton, which resulted in its demolition and subsequent rebuilding of the current church adjacent. (p.167)

The tower is described at length in the The Archaeological Survey of County Down (1966). It also notes that only fragments of the church survive. (p.323). Due to fears that the tower was becoming a risk to health and safety owing to its poor condition, only fragments now remain of the tower. It was demolishd in 1996 after NIEA consulted HBC.

Primary References

1. PRONI OS/6/3/22/1 - OS Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/22/2 - OS Map 1859
3. PRONI OS/6/3/22/3 - OS Map 1902-03
4. PRONI OS/6/3/22/4 - OS Map 1919-20

Secondary References:

1. Rankin F. “Clergy of Down and Dromore” Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation, 1996
2. Ministry of Finance, Government of Northern Ireland “An Archaeological Survey of County Down” Belfast: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1966
3. Harris, W. and Smith, C. “The Antient and Present State of the County of Down” Dublin: A. Reilly, 1744 (Reprinted Ballynahinch: Davidson, 1977)
4. Lewis, Samuel. “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Comprising the Several Counties, Cities, Boroughs, Corporate, Market, and Post Towns, Parishes, and Villages, With Historical and Statistical Descriptions; Embellished with Engravings of the Arms of the Cities, Bishopricks, Corporate Towns, and Boroughs; Of the Seals of the Several Municipal Corporations.” London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Dated 1741, the former tower was the only remaining part of the former Annahilt Church to remain standing, prior to its demolition c.1996. Erected in 1768 at the expense of the Marquis of Downshire, the tower was an addition to the west façade of the existing church which was erected in 1741. It was demolished in 1996 after becomimg unstable. The remains of the tower are within the setting of the listed Church of the Ascension, constructed in 1856 - HB19.06.005