Castlepollard

INFORMATION

Font ID: 02752CAS
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Century and Period/Style: 12th - 16th century, Medieval
Church / Chapel Name: Parish Church of St. Michael (Roman Catholic)
Font Location in Church: In the church grounds
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Michael
Church Address: 11 Church St, Townparks, Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath, Ireland -- Tel.: +353 44 966 1126
Site Location: Westmeath / Iarmhí, Leinster, Republic of Ireland, Europe
Directions to Site: Castlepollard is about 15-20 miles north of Mullingar: take the north local road past Monilea and, a couple of miles past Crookedwood take the left turn (R395) directly to Castlepollard (if you miss this turn, continue to Collinstown and make a left there on the R395 to Castlepollard)
Additional Comments: recycled font? / mortar?: Roe mentions some of these mortars which the faithful interpreted as ancient liturgical objects and were quick to bring them into the temple
Font Notes:
Roe (1968: 110-111) reports two vessels found in the grounds of the Catholic church in Castlepollard, "neither of which can properly be described as a font": one is "a large round unperforated bowl, well-made and shapely, which almost certainly was domestic in purpose"; the other, Roe suggests was "possibly used as a mortar". As Roe has indicated, some of these "vessels" may have been either used at some point as baptismal fonts or regarded as such by later parishioners and saved in the church grounds.

COORDINATES

UTM: 29U 612419 5949076
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 53.678307, -7.29799
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 53° 40′ 41.9″ N, 7° 17′ 52.76″ W

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, type unknown
Number of Pieces: two
Font Shape: round
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: round
Drainage System: no drainage system
Rim Thickness: 10 cm (calculated)
Diameter (inside rim): 52.5 cm (Roe)
Diameter (includes rim): 72.5 cm (Roe)
Basin Depth: 8.2 cm (Roe)
Height of Basin Side: 38 cm (Roe)
Basin Total Height: 38 cm (Roe)
Notes on Measurements: Roe (1968: 111) [the "block" measures 36 cm in height, 35 cm in the diameter of the bowl and 8.2 in depth of the bowl]

REFERENCES

  • Roe, Helen M., Medieval Fonts of Meath, Longford, Ireland: Meath Archaeological and Historical Society, 1968, p. 110-111