Knock Burial Ground

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Graveyard of probable medieval origin located in a suburbanised area within Belfast’s eastern outskirts. The site is relatively small, roughly oval plan, and enclosed by stone walling, with a gateway opening at the north end of Knockmount Park, a cul-de-sac which opens off the northern side of Knock Road. Within the enclosure are headstones of largely 19th and 20th century date, with much tree and shrub growth both within and around the site itself, whilst surrounding (and running up to the entrance) are rows of 1950s+ housing.

The walling to south has two distinct types of masonry - rubble un-coursed Greywacke up to approximately 2m height with a roughcut semi-circular projecting string course in Scrabo sandstone. The walling above (now surviving only to the southeastern part) is in unevenly coursed Scrabo sandstone forming battlements. Scrabo sandstone repairs are also present to the southwestern part and a supporting concrete retaining wall and counterforts are built against the southeast wall. A more recent lower rubble masonry wall built in uncoursed Greywacke with a block infill section extends to south away from the gateway.

The entrance consists of rectangular plan Classical style piers (possibly early 18th century) in grey sandstone ashlar, each with a projecting plinth, moulded cornice and an inner support projection for the gates which is topped with a bracket. A later rectangular section of un-coursed Scrabo sandstone masonry extends over each pier. The plain wrought-iron gates are approached by two lower concrete steps and two stone upper steps.

The other three sides of the graveyard are also enclosed by un-coursed Greywacke walling, now overgrown in parts.

On entering the cemetery, low wide steps lead uphill to the highest point of the site. Headstones are placed in a random manner, and many are displaced, lie flat or are broken. A small number of headstones are attached to the east boundary wall.

Historical information

The current parish of Knockbreda incorporates the formerly separate medieval parishes of Knock and Breda. Both parishes date from at least the early 14th century, being first recorded in the Papal Taxation of 1306. Knock was the principal of the two parishes and was also known by the names ‘Dundela’ (in the 14th century) and ‘Knock Columkille’ (in the 16th century).

This site may possess a much earlier history, however. W.A. Maguire records that the ‘early presence of Christianity in the area, perhaps as early as the 7th century, is indicated by the original attachment of St. Columkille’s name to the old graveyard at Knock.’ Further, the 1966 Archaeological Survey of Co. Down notes that the church is sited approximately 350 yards to the northwest of an Anglo-Norman mound. The survey describes the monument as 73ft by 40ft and possessing an oval summit, stating that ‘as it seems to form part of a manorial group [with the church], it may be considered as a motte (Maguire, p. 11; Archaeological Survey, p. 194; 304). As a result of the wars of the late 16th and 17th centuries, the parish church at Knock lay in ruins in 1622, and was reported again as as such in 1657. The formerly separate parishes were united in the latter year to form Knockbreda.

Both the graveyards historian R.S.J. Clarke and The Follies Trust state that the church at Breda remained ruinous from the early 17th century. It was in use again in use by 1733, however, although ‘it was inconvenient for the parishioners living at Newtownbreda and a new one was built there in 1737 (Knockbreda Parish Church - see HB25/16/005A).’ With the abandonment of the site at Knock, the old church rapidly fell into a state of ruin once again. The first edition OS map of 1833-34 records that the church was originally located slightly southeast of the centre of the current burial ground, although in 1837 Lewis states that it solely consisted of ‘picturesque ruins’ at that time. The site is captioned as ‘Knock Church Ruins & Grave yard’ on 1833-34 map which also depicts the boundary along its current oval layout. In the second valuation of 1860 the rateable value of the graveyard is recorded as £1 while the Memorials of the Dead (1888-1934) note that ‘no vestige [of the church] remains except a few yards of coarsely built stone wall, a foot or two high, in the middle of the ground.’

Clarke states that the boundary wall encircling the graveyard was repaired by Knockbreda Vestry in 1832. Administration of the graveyard remained with the parish until the 1896 extension of Belfast’s municipal boundary brought Knock into the city limits; Belfast Corporation subsequently acquired the burial ground in 1900 and employed a caretaker from 1905. The abovementioned Memorials of the Dead described the graveyard as ‘more than ordinarily congested, every little corner is appropriated. Many headstones are displaced; some lie on the ground with their inscribed faces turned downwards; flat stones are split across or broken.’ The earliest recorded gravestone within the burial ground dates from 1647 (Clarke, p. 67; Memorials of the Dead, pp 32-33).

The burial ground at Knock is no longer utilised for burials. The former site and graveyard of Knock Parish Church is one of the most ancient sites in Belfast. Field Inspection finds that traces of the medieval church cannot be seen due to extensive overgrowth at the site.

References - Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/3/6/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1833-34)
2. PRONI OS/6/3/6/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1858)
3. PRONI OS/6/3/6/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1900-01)
4. PRONI OS/6/3/6/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1920)
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/21 – Griffith’s Valuation (1860)
6. Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)
7. Memorials of the Dead in Ireland: Vols X-XI (1888-1934)
8. First Survey Record – HB26/11/002 (1984)
9. First Survey Image – HB26/11/002 (No Date)
10. NIEA HB Records – HB26/11/002 (Missing)

Secondary Sources
1. ‘An Archaeological Survey of Co. Down’ Belfast: H.M.S.O., 1966.
2. ‘Knockbreda: It’s monuments and people’ Belfast: The Follies Trust.
3. Clarke, R. S. J., ‘Gravestone inscriptions, County Down: Vol. 4’ Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation, 1969.
4. Maguire, W. A., ‘Belfast: Town and City Histories’ Keele: Keele University Press, 1993.
5. Rankin, F., ‘Clergy of Down and Dromore’ Belfast: The Ulster Historical Foundation, 1996.

Online Resources
1. Belfast City Council website - http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/community/cemeteries/knockburialground.aspx

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed
Not listed

Evaluation

Graveyard of probable medieval origin located in a suburbanised area within Belfast’s eastern outskirts. The site does not meet the test for listing.