2023:289 - Templecross, Westmeath

The works involved essential conservation repairs to the ruined church of Templecross (WM011:051----) in the townland of Tristernagh, beside Tristernagh Priory in Co. Westmeath. They followed the recommendations of the Conservation Management Plan for the site prepared in 2022 under the Community Monuments Fund in 2022, and with receipt of further funding under the Community
Monuments Fund in 2023 under Stream 1. It was proposed to protect and maintain the existing built and archaeological heritage of the monument and setting of the ecclesiastical site at Templecross, ensuring repairs did not adversely impact on this heritage.
An application for ministerial consent to undertake archaeological attendance at the works was made and granted under reference C1201, with monitoring taking place in October and November 2023.
The main archaeological intervention took place within the first floor room of the residence at the west end of the church. Here a 500mm wide and 2.4m long test trench was hand excavated running east-west across the 600mm build-up of deposits which had accumulated on the floor. The lowest layer was some 150mm in depth. It consisted of a heavily mortar flecked, loose light yellow-brown clay loam, with fragments of slate scattered throughout. Below this was a relatively hard compact, crudely mortared surface. It was clear that this was not the upper surface of the vault, which formed the roof of the room beneath, however neither was it clearly a ‘floor’ surface. It was decided that the upper two layers, the root-infested layer and the underlying stony clay loam, could be removed down onto the surface of the mortar flecked layer, at which point excavation ceased. The area has been covered and protected awaiting a decision on a further phase of works at the site, which will include the total excavation of the overburden within the room and the exposure of any original floor deposits which may survive.
The second main intervention was to the window at the east end of the north wall. The removal of the vegetation revealed that the ivy had caused significant disturbance to the window. The arch above had completely collapsed and the window itself was leaning out to the north. In discussions with the conservation architect and stone mason it was agreed that the constituent elements of the window be dismantled and the window rebuilt. Prior to this work being undertaken the window was recorded, both drawn and photographed.

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