Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Dolmen,
Ballygraffan, Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Archaeological Site
- Date of construction
- Pre 1600
- Address
- Dolmen,, near 9 Ballygraffan Road,, Ballygraffan,, Comber,, Co. Down, BT23 5NB
- Townland
- Ballygraffan
- Council
- Ards and North Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.53164, -5.72513
- Date of survey
- 22 April 1999
- HB reference
- HB24/15/050
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
Remains of a prehistoric chambered grave or dolmen, set near the edge of a field to the E of the Ballygraffan Road, c.2 miles S of Comber.
The dolmen consists of a large basalt capstone (just under a metre in thickness), set on a small rock outcrop with a collection smaller stones below the capstone along with two large boulders. The boulders probably formed part of the support for the capstone but have collapsed under its weight. The whole grouping is now partly overgrown with grass.
SMR No.DOW 10:36.
Historical information
This dolmen is of the type believed to date from the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age.
References- Secondary sources
1 ‘A Preliminary Survey of the Ancient Monuments of Northern Ireland’ (Belfast 1940), p.88.
2 ‘Archaeological Survey of Co. Down’ (Belfast HMSO 1966), p.78.
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
Remains of a prehistoric dolmen whose support stones appear to have collapsed.
Nearby in the register
- Windmill Stump,Windmillunder 1 mi
- Cattogs,Houseunder 1 mi
- Derelict cottageHouseunder 1 mi
- Cullintraw Bridge,Bridgeunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.