Gernonstown / Castlebellinham / Castle Bellingham?

INFORMATION

Font ID: 09234GER
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Century and Period/Style: 12th - 16th century, Medieval
Church / Chapel Name: Parish Church, Gernonstown [in ruins]
Font Location in Church: Recorded half-buried in the grounds near thr ruined church ca. 1968
Church Address: Gernonstown, Co. Meath, Ireland
Site Location: Meath / An Mhí, Leinster, Republic of Ireland, Europe
Directions to Site: Located off the R163, 3-4 from Slane
Ecclesiastic Region: Diocese of Meath
Historical Region: Barony of Upper Slane
Additional Comments: abandoned font: in the ruins of the old church
Font Notes:
Described in Cogan (1992 c1862, vol. II: 303) as an octagonal baptismal font "with bowl and pedestal chiselled from one stone", located in the church. Roe (1968: 119), saw the font about a century later and reported that it was located "near the ruined church of Gernstown and now deeply embedded in te ground"; that the font "appears almost circular in form with the rim lightly angled to make an octagonal outline"; the basin well is described as "circular with a sloping bottom and central drain". Roe (ibid.) further adds that she is unable to confirm whether or not this is the same font Cogan reported ca. 1862, and that, given the position of the font during her visit [ca. 1968], "nor can its full dimensions be ascertained" [cf. Measurements section for Roe's numbers] [NB: it is not clear whether or not there is another font at Castlebellingham, in the parish of Gernonstown, or it is this same font, probably the latter]

COORDINATES

UTM: 29U 657554 5956291
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 53.73144, -6.61155
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 53° 43′ 53.18″ N, 6° 36′ 41.58″ W

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone
Number of Pieces: one?
Font Shape: octagonal, mounted
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: octagonal
Drainage System: centre hole in basin
Rim Thickness: 10 cm
Diameter (inside rim): 51 cm
Diameter (includes rim): 74 cm
Basin Depth: 13 cm
Height of Basin Side: 33 cm*
Notes on Measurements: Roe (1968: 119) *[NB: the font is half-buried in the ground; this measurement was taken as the "height above ground"]

REFERENCES

  • Cogan, Anthony, The Diocese of Meath: Ancient and Modern, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1992 (c1862), vol. II: 303
  • Roe, Helen M., Medieval Fonts of Meath, Longford, Ireland: Meath Archaeological and Historical Society, 1968, p. 119