Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/05/014

Address :
Graveyard Benagh Rd Kilkeel Newry Co Down BT34 2JE

Townland:
Benagh Upper

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Survey 2:
Record Only

Date of Listing:

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Graveyard

Former Use
Graveyard

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
Yes

Derelict:
Yes

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OS Map No:
284/1

IG Ref:
J2447 1460

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Owner Category

Miscellaneous

Exterior Description And Setting

Disused graveyard on low hill on east side of road. Delineated along road by granite wall, with access via gate and stone steps up from road. Bounded on remaining sides by field hedges. Random rubble foundation walls of a small building near to which are three headstones - two upstanding and one collapsed. The former are of slate, and date to 1871 and 1878. The latter of limestone but is now illegible. Grass overgrowth obscures any other stones which may survive.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Said to be the site of a church founded by St Thuan in 6th century AD. In ruins by 1622. The oldest gravestone (not now in evidence) is said to date to 1781. Site depicted as ‘grave yard’ in 1834 OS 6” map; also shows a small rectangular roofless structure (possibly the old church). 1859 map shows ‘school house’ abutting its north-east corner. According to the 1861 Valuation, this belonged to the Church Education Society and measured 14yd x 6yd x 1storey. It was still in use as a school in the earlier part of the present century. Sources: 1. PRONI – OS 6/3/55/1-3 (Down sheet 55); VAL 2B/3/81A, p.50. 2. EHS Scheduled Monument SMR Down 55:38 Secondary Sources: 1. R.S.J. Clarke (n.d.) Gravestone inscriptions, vol.10: Barony of Mourne, p.53.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This site appears to be of some antiquity as the alleged site of a Patrician church. It is scheduled as an archaeological monument.

General Comments

Date of Survey

09 July 1998