2024:326 - St Nicholas’ Church, Clonmines, Wexford
County: Wexford
Site name: St Nicholas’ Church, Clonmines
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WX045-012007
Licence number: C001396, E005727
Author: Yvonne Whitty
Author/Organisation Address: Unit 10, Riverside Business Centre, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Site type: Medieval church site
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 684207m, N 612872m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.261100, -6.766453
Archaeological monitoring took place of Phase 1 conservation repairs to the ruins of St Nicholas’ Church at Clonmines, Co. Wexford (WX045-012007). The works were commissioned by Wexford County Council and grant aid was provided by the Communities Monuments Fund in partnership with Wexford County Council (CMF24-1-WX001).
A large pile of stones, approximately 1m in height, was partially removed from the base of the south elevation of the church tower. Among the stones removed were several architectural fragments, including a medieval grave slab.
The graveslab is wedge-shaped in plan, with the bottom corner broken off. It measures 0.54m in width at the top and is 1.44m in length, though the bottom of the slab is damaged. At the broken base, it is 0.51m wide. The slab has a thickness of 0.09m. An incised cross is formed by thinly carved lines, each measuring 0.05m in width. The cross features a stepped incised section at its base. Opposite the main cross is a group of four carved diamond shapes.
These stones will be securely stored on-site for the duration of the works and, upon completion, will be put in a suitable location. An inventory of the stones will be prepared prior to their final storage.