Mortuary Chapel in graveyard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Inter-denominational cemetery, built in 1859, located to the east side of North Road. The cemetery contains a selection of nineteenth and twentieth century gravestones, gated plots and decorative memorials including an obelisk and Celtic cross; earliest located stone dates from 1870.

To centre of graveyard is a single cell Mortuary Chapel. Roof is pitched natural slate with deep overhanging eaves; fretted timber bargeboards and dropped finial. Walls are chamfered timber frame with vertical timber boarding infill over stepped rendered plinth. Windows are openwork lattice lights in timber frame with cusped tracery.

Principal gable faces south consisting of central entrance flanked by pair of window openings; decorative cast-iron gates; timber framed above to apex. East and west elevations are five bays wide; north bay is rendered; four bays to south each contain pair of window openings. North elevation is rendered.

Graveyard bounded to all sides by hedging; access through pair of square rubble gate pillars to south; entrance accessed via avenue leading from North Road at south.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Timber framed and rendered
Windows: Cusped timber framed openwork lattice lights
RWG: N/A

Historical information

The graveyard is first shown on the third edition OS map of 1902.

Online sources describe how the graveyard was established to augment the old churchyard of St Nicholas's. There is a tablet in the east wall of the mortuary chapel inscribed thus;

“This burial ground was provided for the parish of Carrickfergus in the year 1859 as an additional burial place for persons of all denominations pursuant to a bequest to that effect in the will of Charles Edmonstone Kirk of Thornfield, late captain 1st Royals, agreeably to the terms of said will the moiety of this burial ground lying in the centre and surrounded by the four walks, which run parallel with the boundary walls and are distinct therefrom about 35 feet, has been set apart inalienably as a free burying place for the poor of this parish and for strangers. The residue of the ground namely the plots which lie between the boundary walls and the four walks abovementioned remains under the disposal of the rector of the parish for the time being and the whole is under the control as an ordinary parochial burying ground. A sum of two shillings and sixpence will be payable to the rector for each burial in the last mentioned plots as a burial fee, the same to be applied in keeping the chapel and burial ground in repair and order. This fee will be exclusive of the sexton's charge and will be payable irrespective of the ownership of any particular parcel of ground by any family.”

Below this is a smaller square tablet inscribed with a plan of the ground and the accompanying wording, “MAP of the burial ground shewing the position of the drains therein”. The drains are marked in red. Several members of the Kirk family were buried under the chapel. The ground remained in the possession of the Church of Ireland until taken into the care of the Borough Council in 1990. The earliest date of death recorded is 1853 (Donald). All inscriptions recording deaths before 1901 have been copied. (History from Headstones)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/52/2-Second Edition OS Map (1857)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/52/3-Third Edition OS Map (1902)

Secondary Sources

1. History from Headstones. [Internet Source].
Available from:
http://www.historyfromheadstones.com/index.php?displaygraveyardinfo&graveyard_name=North%20Road%20Cemetery.
Accessed 20th Jan, 2009.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Ornate mid-Victorian mortuary chapel positioned in the centre of an inter-denominational Cemetery, built in 1859, located to the east side of North Road. The chapel displays delicate detailing and timberwork. It also has substantial social interest to the local community.
The cemetery contains a selection of nineteenth and twentieth century gravestones, gated plots and decorative memorials including an obelisk and Celtic cross. The graveyard was provided as a free burial ground for the less fortunate members of the community during the latter part of the nineteenth century and is still in use.