Blanchvilles / Blanchfieldstown / Blanchvilleskill

INFORMATION

Font ID: 09301BLA
Object Type: Baptismal Font1, basin only
Font Century and Period/Style: Medieval
Church / Chapel Name: Old Church [abandoned]
Font Location in Church: Reported in 1837 and ca. 1893 abandoned and half buried in the grounds
Church Address: Blanvillestown, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland
Site Location: Kilkenny, Leinster, Republic of Ireland, Europe
Directions to Site: Located off (E) the M-9, 4 km W of Gowran, 9-10 km ESE of Kilkenny city
Historical Region: Barony of Gowran
Additional Comments: abandoned font / damaged font
Font Notes:
Blancilleskill is mentioned in A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837): "There are some remains of the old church at Blanchvilleskill." A font here is described in E.F. Hewson's report to the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (1893, vol. 23: 208): "The bowl of the font lies broken and half buried in the ground, and concealed in the grass, between the north-east corner of the church and the public road. It is quite plain, and measures on its upper face 23 inches square, with a height of 16 inches. The bowl has a diameter of about 20 inches, and there is no ornamentation of any kind."

COORDINATES

UTM: 29U 626204 5832614
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 52.628825, -7.135318
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 52° 37′ 43.77″ N, 7° 8′ 7.15″ W

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone
Number of Pieces: one [basin only]
Font Shape: square
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: square
Diameter (inside rim): 50 cm [approx.]
Height of Basin Side: 40 cm [approx.]
Trapezoidal Basin: 57.5 x 57.5 cm [approx.]
Notes on Measurements: Hewson (1893: 208)

REFERENCES

  • Hewson, E.F., "Churches of Claragh, Blanchvilleskill, and Tullaherin", 23 (1893), Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1893, pp. 207-210; p. 208