County: Down Site name: DOWNPATRICK
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Mr. T. G. Delaney, Department of Antiquities, Ulster Museum.
Site type: Cathedral
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 745300m, N 852122m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.327616, -5.721753
Excavation in the NE corner of Downpatrick Cathedral to accommodate a fire escape led to the discovery and destruction of several burials. At least four burials had been removed and 5 others were exposed in the section; three were enclosed by coffins of mortared masonry, at a level 1.2m below floor level; two simple unlined burials had been later inserted at a level 0.8m below floor level. All burials were inserted in a homogenous sandy gravel fill containing animal bone and charcoal which appears to be a makeup layer associated with the building of the chancel of the medieval church. At 1.9m below floor level part of a gilt bronze plaque was found, with a sherd of local pottery. The surviving bones were examined by Dr. M. Delaney who considers all the burials to have been mature males.
