SECTION 5. LETTERKENNY MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ADDITIONS

Transcription

1 SECTION 5. LETTERKENNY MUNICIPAL DISTRICT ADDITIONS

2 The following schedule lists the reference number, name, type and location of each proposed addition located in the Letterkenny Municipal District area, together with the page number on which a more detailed schedule can be viewed. Reference number Name of Building type Location Page number Oak Park House Roughpark (Castlewray), Letterkenny Newmill Bridge Bridge Ramelton Milford Presbyterian Church Church / Chapel Kilmacrennan Road, Milford The Old Rectory Rectory / Glebe / Vicarage / Curate's house 234 Main St.(off), Rathmullan Rathmullan Abbey & Graveyard Graveyard / Cemetry Main St., Rathmullan Kilmacrennan Old Church, Friary & Graveyards Church / Chapel Kilmacrennan

3 Oak Park Roughpark (Castlewray), Letterkenny Detached five-bay two-storey house, built c and altered c. 1870, having two-storey canted projection to the centre of the front elevation (south), single-storey open veranda to the front, added c. 1870, now enclosed to the eastern half with modern windows and doors, three-bay twostorey return to the rear (north) at the west corner, and with two-storey return with lean-to roof attached to the east end of the rear elevation. Now in use as a house. Pitched slate roofs, hipped to canted breakfront, with rendered chimneystacks to gable ends (east and west), and with surviving sections of cast-iron rainwater goods. Mono-pitched roof to veranda, behind raised parapet, supported on metal columns. Smooth rendered walls to front elevation (south), smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walls to side elevations (east and west), and roughcast rendered to rear of return (north). Square-headed window openings with painted stone sills, and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to front at ground floor level and centre of projection, four-overfour pane timber sliding sash windows to either side of breakfront and twoover-two timber sliding sash window to first floor of breakfront. Replacement windows to front elevation first floor and modern windows to conservatory to east side of canted projection. Square-headed window openings to other elevations with limestone sills This interesting and appealing middlesized house, dating to the last decades of the eighteenth century or the start of the nineteenth century, retains much of its early form and character. The full-height canted projection to the centre of the front elevation is a feature that this house shares with a number of its contemporaries in Donegal, particularly to the south around Killygordon and Ballybofey\Stranorlar, and to the southeast end of the Inishowen Peninsula, and helps to give this building a strong character. The open veranda to the front, now enclosed to the east end of the canted projection, was probably added during the last decades of the nineteenth century, and add further to the architectural expression of this building. The retention of salient fabric such as the surviving timber sliding sash windows and the doorways to either side of the canted projection add to its integrity; the loss of salient fabric is regrettable though it fails to detract substantially from the appeal of this building and suitable replacements could be easily installed. The large-scale outbuilding to the rear also retains much of its original fabric, albeit in a dilapidated condition, and adds to the context and setting. This and the remains of the walled garden to the west provide an historical insight into the resources required to run and maintain even a relatively modest country estate in Ireland during the nineteenth century. The simple gateway to the south with wrought-iron gates completes this 234 Architectural

4 and a variety of timber sliding sash windows. Round-headed doorway to the west and east sides of canted projection having timber panelled door and fanlight over; square-headed doorway to conservatory with glazed timber door. Doorways accessed by flight of stone steps flanked by dwarf walls with cut stone coping over. Terminating piers on (on circular-plan) to the south of walls to either end of veranda to entrance front (south); square-headed window openings to walls to either end of veranda with multi-paned window surviving to the wall to the east. Set back from road in extensive mature landscaped grounds in the rural countryside to the northeast of Letterkenny. Detached multiple bay two-storey outbuilding to the rear (north) having flight of steps to the centre of the south elevation giving access to doorway at first floor level, pitched natural slate roof with cast-iron rainwater goods and red brick chimneystacks, roughcast rendered walls, square-headed window and door openings with remains of battened timber doors with multi-paned overlights and timber multi-paned windows (openings now mostly blocked), and with square- and segmental-headed carriage-arches, some retained battened timber doors. Main entrance to the south comprising a pair of roughcast rendered gate piers (on circular-plan) having wrought-iron gates and flanking sections of curved appealing composition. This was the residence of a William Wray Esq. in 1824 (Pigot's Directory), 1846 and 1881 (Slater's Directory). The Wray family had their main seat at Castle Wray (now in ruins, see ) a short distance to the north-west during the seventeenth, eighteenth and into the nineteenth centuries but the house was in the ownership of the Mansfield family by c It is possible that the Wrays built this house after they moved from nearby Castle Wray. It was the home of a Michael Megson in 1894 (Slater's Directory). Occupying mature parkland grounds in the rural countryside to the north-east of the Letterkenny, this building is an integral element of the built heritage of the local area. 235

5 quadrant rubble stone walling. Remains of walled garden (on sub rectangular-plan) to the west having rubble stone boundary walls; wall removed to south boundary. 236

6 Bridge Newmill Bridge Rathmelton, Ramelton Single-arch bridge, c and possibly containing fabric of earlier bridge to site c. 1800, carrying small road over small unnamed stream\former millrace flowing into the estuary of the River Leannan to the north. Segmentalheaded arch having squared rock-faced voussoirs to arch; squared rubble stone construction to arch barrel with coursed and squared rock-faced masonry below arch springing point. Randomly coursed rubble stone construction to spandrels and to parapets. Modern repairs in places. Side elevations (north-east and southwest) now overgrown with ivy. Battered rubble stone abutment to east side having rock-faced squared stone quoins. Tarmacadam deck with grass verges. Located in the rural countryside to the south-east of Ramelton. Rubble stone wing walls to ends of parapets. This simple but appealing small-scale bridge retains its early character and form, and is an appealing feature in countryside to the south-east of Ramelton. It is robustly-constructed in local rubble stone masonry, and its continued survival stands as testament to the quality of its original construction, and of the skill of the masons involved. This bridge is depicted on the Ordnance Survey first edition six-inch map of the area, c However, the good-quality rock-faced voussoirs to the arches, and to the arch barrel below arch springing point, is a feature found at the many bridges that were built or altered by the Board of Works during the mid-to-late nineteenth century, and particularly between c , suggesting that this bridge may have been built or altered around this time. Located on a narrow road leading to Letterkenny, this small but robust bridge is an appealing landmark in a picturesque surrounding. Architectural, Technical 237

7 Church / Chapel Milford Presbyterian Church Kilmacrennan Road, Millford Freestanding double-height Presbyterian church\meeting house originally on 'T-shaped' plan, dated 1837, comprising four-bay hall with shallow projecting transepts to the north and south to the west end, projecting three-bay single-storey extension to the east gable end having central single-bay gable-fronted porch, dated 1956, and with attached doubleheight gable-fronted hall attached to the north, dated 1896, having modern two-bay addition attached to the north, c Two-bay single-storey porch to the north side of nave attached to hall to north. Pitched artificial slate roofs having raised roughcast rendered coping to the gable ends to the west, south and east ends of original building having stepped smooth rendered coping over,and with smooth rendered kneeler stones at eaves level (to south and east gables), gable-fronted smooth rendered or painted cut stone bellcote over the gable apex to the east end of original building having pointed-arched opening, smooth rendered finial over gable apex to the west end of original building, and with decorative smooth rendered finial over the south gable end of original building having gablefronted faces to four cardinal points, and with pointed-arched blind recess to the south face and with corbelling to base. Hipped artificial slate roof to single-storey addition to the east elevation of main body of church This substantial if plain Presbyterian church or meeting house was originally built as a T-plan structure in The pointed-arched window openings lend it a subdued Gothic Revival character that is typical of many contemporary churches and meeting houses of most denominations (excluding many Methodist churches). Its visual appeal is enhanced by the retention of the leaded coloured glass windows and timber doors although the loss of the original natural slate roofs detracts from its integrity. Its original t-plan form is a feature of many contemporary non-conformist and Catholic churches in Ireland, and its plain almost vernacular elevations and detailing are characteristic of many churches and meeting houses of its type and date. The plain main elevations are enlivened by the simple smooth rendered block-and-start surrounds to the openings while the bellcote, stepped raised rendered verges to the gable ends with kneeler stones at eaves level and finials to gable apexes adds interest at roofscape level, and may be later additions. A large hall was built to the north of the church in 1896 and its form and detailing matches that of the original church. A sensitive modern porch addition was also added to the east side of the church in 1956, which also respects and compliments the style and detailing of the main body of the building. This building is an addition to the built heritage of Milford, and represents an interesting historical Architectural, Social 238

8 having central shallow projecting single-bay gable-fronted porch having raised smooth rendered coping over and with kneeler stones at eaves level. Pitched slate roof to hall to the north having raised roughcast rendered verge to the east face with stepped smooth rendered coping over, painted kneeler stones at eaves level, and with smooth rendered or painted finial over gable apex; central projecting single-bay single-storey gable-fronted porch to the east elevation of hall to the north having pitched slate roof and with bevelled raised rendered coping over with kneeler stone detailing at eaves level. Pitched slate roof to modern addition to the north side of hall having raised rendered verge to the north gable end with stepped rendered coping over. Roughcast rendered walls throughout. Date plaque (on rectangular-plan) to the south elevation of transept to the south having chamfered edges and incised date '1837'; date plaque (on rectangular-plan) to the east elevation of porch to the east side of main body of church having incised date '1956'; date plaque (on rectangular-plan) to the east side of hall to the north having incised date '1896'. Pointed-arched window openings to main body of original church having smooth rendered block-and-start surrounds, chamfered sills, and with leaded coloured glass windows with wire mesh security guards over. Squarereminder of the religious diversity that existed (and still exists) in this part of Donegal in the nineteenth century. ingly this is one of two Presbyterian churches that were built in Milford in 1837 along with the Reformed Presbyterian church (see ) that stands adjacent to the east. The graveyard to the north adds to the context and setting, and completes this composition, which makes a positive contribution to the streetscape along the main approach road in Milford from the south-west. The building is also of social importance, providing a focal point for the local Presbyterian community 239

9 headed window openings to the front face (east) of single-storey addition to the east side of main body of building having chamfered smooth rendered block-and-start surrounds, chamfered sills, and leaded coloured glass windows; square-headed window opening to the south end of two-bay single-storey porch to the north side of nave having chamfered smooth rendered block-and-start surround, chamfered sill, and leaded coloured glass window. Pointed-arched window openings flanking central entrance to porch to east addition to main body of building having chamfered smooth rendered block-and-start surrounds, chamfered sills, and leaded coloured glass windows. Pointed-arched window openings to the west gable end of hall to the north having smooth rendered block and start surrounds, chamfered sills, and with replacement windows. Pointed-arched doorways to porches to the east addition to east elevation of main body of church and to the east elevation of hall having chamfered smooth rendered surround, and with timber panelled double-doors with inset battened timber panels with herringbone motifs. Pointed-arched doorway to porch to the north side of nave having chamfered smooth rendered surround, and with timber panelled door. Set back from road in own grounds to the south-west of the centre of Milford. Gravel forecourt\car park to the east side of site bounded by 240

10 manicured hedging. Graveyard to the north with collection of mainly twentieth centre gravemarkers. Modern rubble stone-clad boundary wall to the south-east boundary of site having two modern gateways with rubble stone gate piers (on squareplan) having a pair of modern metal gates. Concrete block boundary wall to south boundary. 241

11 Rectory / Glebe / Vicarage / Curate s House The Old Rectory Main Street (off), Rathmullan Detached three-bay two-storey with half-dormer attic level former Church of Ireland rectory, built c. 1879, having advanced single-bay gable-fronted bay to the north end of the front elevation (east), single-bay single-storey canted bay window to the south end of the front elevation rising to box bay gablefronted half-dormer window opening over, and with two-storey return to the rear at the north-west corner. In use as a guest house, c. 2000, now in use a private house. Double pitched natural slate roof to main body of building having cast-iron rainwater goods, two central stepped rendered chimneystacks, and with decorative timber bargeboards to gable-fronted bay and to half-dormer having pierced panels to gable apex, and with curvilinear timber bargeboards supported to either side by paired moulded corbelled brackets. Monopitched slate roof over corners to canted bay window. Roughcast rendered walls over smooth rendered plinth course with flush ashlar (?) block-and-start quoins to the corners of main body of building, breakfront to the north end of the front elevation, and to corners of box bay window. Tripartite square-headed window opening to advanced gable-fronted bay at first floor level having chamfered cut stone surround, chamfered cut stone sill, chamfered cut stone mullions and transom, and with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows with fixed- This instantly-appealing and wellmaintained former Church of Ireland rectory, originally dating to the last decades of the nineteenth century, retains its original character and form despite now being in alterative use. Its visual appeal and integrity are enhanced by the retention of salient fabric including timber sliding sash windows and natural slate roofs. Its complex plan with gable-fronted bay to the north end of the front elevation, canted bay window to the south end rising to box bay half-dormer window opening over, and a variety of window openings helps to create an interesting and varied composition of some aesthetic appeal. This complex plan is typical of many late Victorian middle-class houses etc. found throughout Ireland. The extensive cut stone detailing to the window openings, the quoins to the corners, the pointedarched surround to the window openings at first floor level to the projecting bay, the fine moulded doorcase with curious hoodmoulding over having label stops at different heights and the cut stone plaque with hoodmoulding over the doorway are clearly the work of skilled masons, and help to elevate this building well above many of its contemporaries in County Donegal. The cusped window openings at first floor level, pointedarched doorway and window openings at ground floor level with mullions and transoms, and the pitched roof forms also helps to create a Gothic\Tudor Gothic composition with an appropriate Architectural, Historical, Social 242

12 pane timber windows over transom; paired cusped window openings over at first floor level, set in painted pointed-arched cut stone (?) panel with circular recess to apex having raised cut stone patera motif, having chamfered cut stone block-and-start surround, chamfered cut stone mullion, chamfered cut stone sills, and with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows. Five-light squareheaded window openings (central tripartite window flanked by single windows to canted corners) to canted bay to the south end of the front elevation having chamfered cut stone surround, chamfered cut stone sills, chamfered cut stone mullions and transom, and with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows with fixedpane timber windows over transom; paired cusped window openings over at first floor level having chamfered cut stone block-and-start surround, chamfered cut stone mullion, chamfered cut stone sills, and with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows. Paired cusped window openings over doorway to centre of building at first floor level having chamfered cut stone block-and-start surround, chamfered cut stone mullion, chamfered cut stone sills, and with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows. Paired square-headed window openings to the south elevation at ground floor level having chamfered cut stone block-and-start ecclesiastic character for a rectory. Further decorative interest is added by the complex timber bargeboards to the gable-fronted bay and half-dormer opening with pierced panels to the gable apexes. The carved stone plaque over the doorway has a Latin inscription in raised lettering that is now illegible. The associated outbuilding to the south-west is constructed in a similar architectural idiom to the main house; the east elevation of this outbuilding which is viewed on approach to the main house has a tripartite window with mullions and hoodmoulding and raised ashlar quoins to the corners. The other elevations are screened and treated more prosaically. A cut stone date plaque to the east elevation of the outbuilding has the raised text 'NCB' and the date '1879', which is more than likely the construction date of the main rectory building. The meaning of the NCB text is less clear although the 'B' may have some connection to the Batt family who resided at nearby Rathmullan House ( ), the former demesne of which adjoins this site to the north. The relative elaborate detailing to this rectory suggests the input of a wealthy family into the construction of this rectory. This was probably the home of the Revd. Henry Cochrane in 1881 and the William B. Lloyd in 1894 (Slater's Directories). This fine building, occupying an attractive setting in mature grounds overlooking Lough Swilly a short distance to the east, is an integral element of the 243

13 surround, chamfered cut stone mullion and transom, chamfered cut stone sills, and with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows with fixed-pane timber windows over transoms; cusped window opening at first floor level having chamfered cut stone block-andstart surround, chamfered cut stone sill, and with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed window openings elsewhere, some paired, having one over one pane timber sliding sash windows. Central pointed-arched doorway to the centre of the front elevation having moulded sandstone surround, plinth blocks, timber panelled double-doors, and with cut sandstone hoodmoulding over having carved foliate label stops (uneven, at different heights to either side); carved cut stone plaque (on rectangular-plan) over doorway having raised Latin text (now denuded and illegible) having cut sandstone hoodmoulding over with decorative foliate label stops. Set back from road in extensive mature grounds to the north-east of the centre of Rathmullan and overlooking Lough Swilly a short distance to the east. Detached singlebay two-storey gable-fronted outbuilding to the south-west (threebay elevation to the north) having pitched slate roof with rendered chimneystack to the south pitch; rubble stone walls to the east elevation having raised ashlar block-and-start quoins to the corners (roughcast built heritage of Rathmullan, the outbuildings to site, rubble stone boundary walls to the rear, and the gateway to the south-west all add to the setting and context, and complete this composition. 244

14 rendered walls to the north); tripartite square-headed window opening at first floor level having chamfered cut stone block-and-start surround, chamfered cut stone mullions, chamfered cut stone sills, one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows, and with cut stone hoodmoulding over; and having cut stone date plaque\shield over window opening to the east elevation having raised lettering reading 'NCB, 1879). Outbuilding possibly converted to residential use. Rubble stone boundary walls enclosing rectangular enclosure to the rear (west) with single-storey outbuilding to the west (not viewed). Modern rubble stone boundary wall to the road-frontage to the east. Gateway to the south-east having a pair of stone gate piers with metal gates. chimneystack to the south pitch; rubble stone walls to the east elevation having raised ashlar block-and-start quoins to the corners (roughcast rendered walls to the north); tripartite square-headed window opening at first floor level having chamfered cut stone block-and-start surround, chamfered cut stone mullions, chamfered cut stone sills, one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows, and with cut stone hoodmoulding over; and having cut stone date plaque\shield over window opening to the east elevation having raised lettering reading 'NCB, 1879). Outbuilding possibly converted to residential use. Rubble stone 245

15 boundary walls enclosing rectangular enclosure to the rear (west) with single-storey outbuilding to the west (not viewed). Modern rubble stone boundary wall to the road-frontage to the east. Gateway to the south-east having a pair of stone gate piers with metal gates. 246

16 Graveyard Rathmullan Abbey and Graveyard Main Street, Rathmullan Rathmullan Abbey built in The building is fragmentory and complex. The original friary was standard; a long church almost 80ft by 21st wide, with side altars in a S transept, and the living quarters to the north on a line with the side of the chancel. Architectural details from the original building are limited. The east window was a complex three-light cusped design, mid c15, with a tracery pattern that is difficult to reconstruct convincingly. South chancel window two-light Dec with a vesicant-shaped head and an elaborate hood moulding with label stops carved with faces. Double chamfered crossing arches, the inner supported on tapering stops carved with a crudely moulded impost cornice. Perhaps this is the work of 156. the north door in the vestibule leads to the cloisters and friars quarters of which the east wall and north gable remain. in the Gable is a cross-mullioned window checked on the inside to take wooden shutters in the lower lights. Beside it, a stairs in the thickness of the gable leads to a corner bartizan added by Bishop Knox. note at the top of the window reveal the pierced stone to provide a pivot for the door to the stair. more alterations appear on the transept east wall, with two arched reveals walled up by the Bishop, who replaced them with small mullioned two-light windows with segmental arches inside. Between is a fireplace. the rest of the Friary is now the The friary building has an extraordinary schizophrenic architecture reflects these opposite and contradictory periods. The building is important in terms of its age and as it is a large mediaeval structure and a fortified Jacobean house; it is also symbolic of a fracture in Irish history and yet also of a continuity of human occupation. The graveyard is an interesting and atmospheric and contains an interesting collection of gravemarkers of mainly nineteenth century date. It occupies the south side of the site of Rathmullan\St. Mary's Friary (see RMP DG ), which was originally founded in 1516 for the Carmelite Order by Owen Roe MacSweeney and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The priory survived intact until 1595 when it was plundered by Bingham; the friars returned and repaired the site afterwards. Andrew Knox, Bishop of Raphoe, obtained possession of the site in 1618, and subsequently converted the nave and transept into a private dwelling. In 1706, the chancel was consecrated by Bishop Pooley as the parish church for Killygarvan. Services were discontinued here when a new parish church, St. Columb's (see ), was built a short distance to the west in The dwelling probably fell into ruins during the second half of the eighteenth century after the Knox family moved to Prehen, near Derry. The graveyard itself appears to have come into use at the start of the nineteenth century. It contains a collection of 247 Architectural, artistic, Historical, Social

17 fortified house. The transept south gable, with three flat-headed mullioned windows under label mouldings is like that of an English manor, but round the corner the west side and the nave are emphatically Scottish; the building has become a typical L-shaped tower house with even a projecting square in the reentrant angle that will have housed the main stair. The door is here on the west wall, with a moulded sandstone frame, surmounted by the initials ANKNSE and the date Above the door by a chimney-breast is a small machicolation to protect it. The windows have typically Scottish halfround mouldings, and the corners of the nave are protected at roof level by two fine angle bartizans on moulded corbel courses. on the west gable, which is crow-stepped, two jagged brick chimneys shaped like eightpointed stars. Inside the interest of Bishops Knox's houses is slight. none of the subdivisions remains, the windows are walled up, and most of the north wall has been demolished. Graveyard (on complex irregular-plan) located to the south of the remains of Rathmullan\St. Mary's Friary (see RMP DG ), in use from c until c Now out of use. Contains collection of upstanding, recumbent and table-type memorials. Metal railings and\or enclosures to some memorials. Freestanding memorial to the south of site commemorating upstanding, recumbent, and table-type memorials of mainly nineteenth century date (although there are some memorials dating to the 1960s), some of which are of modest artistic interest. One of the most impressive of these is a table-type memorial with classical pilasters to the corners to the south side of the enclosure. This commemorates Captain William Pakenham (died aged 29), Captain of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Saldhana, which sunk off Ballymastocker Bay to the north in a storm on the 4th of December 1811 with the loss of over 250 lives. (The Saldhana was a warship weighing 951 tons and armed with 36 canons. It was built by Temple and Sons in South Shields in The ship named after the Battle of Saldhana Bay off South Africa in 1796). William Pakenham was the son of the second Baron Longford of Pakenham Hall, Castlepollard, County Westmeath, an illustrious military family at the time. The graveyard also contains a number of other memorials with naval and military connections including gravemarkers to Commd Fitzmaurice Acton, CMO Royal Navy (died 1920), Walter Edward Elliot ( ?), Lieutenant Royal Navy, Darcy Irvine, Commander Royal Navy ('died at Carralenna in 1907'), Colonel John Hewitt Jellett CMC, Royal Artillery (died 1832?), and Colonel Arn(old?) Shrewsbury Montgomery (died at Fort Royal Rathmullan in 1924). This interesting site is an interesting addition to the built heritage and social history of 248

18 Captain William Pakenham, Captain of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Saldhana (which sunk off Ballymastocker Bay to the north in a storm in December 1811); gravemarker comprises tabletype memorial having classical pilasters to corners, and with wrought-iron railings having wrought-iron posts to corners of enclosure with ball finials over. Site surrounded by partially roughcast rendered rubble stone boundary wall. Gateway to the southwest corner of site comprising a pair of ashlar gate piers having pyramidal cut stone coping over, and with wroughtiron gate. Located to the centre of Main Street, Rathmullan, overlooking Lough Swilly across road to the south. Rathmullan, and forms part of an interesting complex along with the remains of the friary to the centre of Rathmullan. The simple rubble stone boundary walls, and the fine gateway to the south-west corner of the site with ashlar gate piers add to the context and setting. 249

19 Graveyard / Cemetry Kilmacrenan Old Church and Graveyard kilmacrenan Remains of former Church of Ireland church, built c and altered c and c. 1760, having remains of three-storey tower (on square-plan) to the south-west end, added c Now derelict and partially demolished. Roof now collapsed\removed, originally pitched. Lower courses of rubble stone walls surviving to the north-west, south-east and north-east. Evidence of roughcast rendered surviving to tower. Lowest stage of tower converted into burial vault, after c Church remains set in subrectangular enclosure having rubble stone boundary walls with rubble stone coping over. Gateway to the northwest having a pair of rubble stone gate piers (on square-plan) having flagstone coping over, and with a wrought-iron gate. Graveyard to site with collection of mainly upstanding twentiethcentury gravemarkers and some nineteenth-century gravemarkers. Set back from road in the rural countryside to the north-east of Kilmacrenan. Remains of Franciscan friary (see RMP DG ), founded c. 1540, located to the north-east. Modern signage to north-west inscribed with information concerning site. These ruins of the former Church of Ireland parish church are an interesting feature of some historic and archaeology interest in the rural landscape to the north-east of Kilmacrenan. The remains consist of a rectangular hall with a later tower attached to the south-west end. The original church was built sometime after 1622 (Royal Commission Report, 216) and was a simple hall-type rubble stone structure. It has altered in 1733 when the interior was wainscoted throughout and a marble floor was installed around the altar. The lack of bounding stones to the three-stage tower indicates that this is a later addition; its form suggests that it was added during the middle of the eighteenth century. The church remained in use until when the new Church of Ireland church (see ) was built to the north-west end of Kilmacrenan. Lewis (1837) records that this earlier ruinous church is 'a very old structure, which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners intend to rebuild'. This earlier church was demolished shortly after the construction of the new church, and some of the masonry may have been used to build the replacement building. The church is surrounded by a graveyard with mainly upstanding twentieth century gravemarkers, some of which are of modest artistic interest. The site is surrounded by a robust rubble stone boundary wall that may have been added c to enclose the graveyard, which adds to the setting and context. This Architectural, Archaeological, Social 250

20 graveyard is of social interest to the local community. The gateway to site completes this composition. The remains of a Franciscan friary are found adjacent to the north-east. This was founded, probably after 1537, by Manus O'Donnell for the Franciscan Third Order Regular (Gwynn and Hadcock, 1970, 272). The remains consist of a rectangular church comprising nave and chancel without structural division. It is likely that much of the masonry from the friary was used to build the old Church of Ireland church to the south-west, and some remains of the friary are built into the exterior walls of the replacement Church of Ireland church (see ) at Kilmacrenan to the west. The remains of the friary are surrounded by a graveyard (see RMP DG ) that, apparently, contains or contained the inauguration stone (see RMP DG ) of the O'Donnell clan (Ó Domhnaill), chiefs of Tir Conaill. 251