Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB02/06/011 C

Address :
Graveyard Dungiven Priory Priory Lane Dungiven Co Londonderry BT47 4PF

Townland:
Dungiven

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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:
No

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OS Map No:
51/10

IG Ref:
C6923 0827

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

A large graveyard which forms the enclosure to the Priory ruins at Dungiven. An undulating grassy area of about 0.5 hectares with the Priory ruins towards the S W end. The graveyard has many grave memorials, a few of which were decipherable are listed below : flat grave or table slab on 2 supports in stone commemorating Patrick McCloskey d. 6/7/1779 John McCloskey d. 1797 On the slabs are carved symbols of cross, book, ball and possible a chalice. If a chalice it would indicate that one of the interred was a priest if not both. An upright stone slab with chamfered and shaped top. Commemorating John Money d. 24/5/1774 Stone seems to be a hard sandstone and the earlier lettering is well done, neatly inscribed in lower case. The later lettering is smaller and of the early 19th cent. A prominent memorial of rectangular vertical stone with pitched top and below a recessed narrow band circumscribing the stone. The material would appear to be a greenish limestone. The lettering neatly cut but not artistic. The vertical stone rests on a moulded base or pedestal made up of separate pieces whereas the top vertical stone is of one piece and commemorates Henry Haslett d. 1861 age 19 years. The graveyard has a pleasing and secluded
setting overlooking Benady Glen and the River Roe. It is easily accessed along Priory Lane.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Burial probably took place in this graveyard since a monastic settlement was established. After 1600 both protestants and catholics continued to be buried here. No 17th cent memorials were identified but several of the late 18th cent. The O.S. Memoirs refers to the graveyard memorials and draws attention to a 17th cent. one “This stone is made for McCloskey Mor McCloskey, 1672”. SMR No. Ldy 31.15 References Primary Sources O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry IV 1824, 1833-5 p. 58

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed Not listed

Evaluation

The graveyard is of great historical and social importance because of its pre- mediaeval, mediaeval and plantation significance. The memorials noted are worthy of conservation for their social history and age and illustrates the cross community habits of funeral rites irrespective of other differences.

General Comments

Date of Survey

24 May 2000