County: Cork Site name: Bridgetown lower
Sites and Monuments Record No.: CO034–027(2) Licence number: E004097
Author: Catryn Power, Cork County Archaeologist, County Hall, Cork.
Site type: Medieval priory
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 567745m, N 599757m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.148717, -8.471303
Bridgetown Augustinian priory, Bridgetown Lower, Castletownroche, comprises a complex of buildings around a cloister. These buildings are the church and its tower and choir, a refectory, and two towers probably used for accommodation (Cotter 2000). This priory was founded c. 1200 and was associated with the Roche’s by the 13th century. Thirteenth-century features survive in some of these buildings. Major conservation works were undertaken here by Cork County Council in the 1970s and the 1990s. The craftsmen of the historic monuments advisory committee of Cork County Council also undertook further conservation works in 2010. A temporary roof structure was erected over the upper story floor area of the north-west tower, to prevent rainwater ingress into the stone vault. There was no ground disturbance, hence no previously unknown archaeological stratigraphy was exposed.
Reference
Cotter, E. 2000 Condition survey of heritage sites in the care of Cork County Council. Unpublished.
