Anchorites Church

National Monument No. 215. Situated west of St. Feichin's church at the foot of the rock outcrop known as Carraig Bhaile Fhobhair. The history of the site cannot be traced before 1300 but it is likely that its origins lie in the Early Historic period. This chapel is first mentioned in the 1302-06 ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland where the 'Chapel Archeriorum' is valued at 20s. (Cal. doc. Ire., 259), it is mentioned again as 'Archidiorum' in the lease of the priory of Fore to Christopher Nugent, lord of Delvin in 1567 (Nicholls 1994, 134). In this year the Crown granted Christopher Nugent a 21 year lease 'of the site of the priory (WM004-035010-) or manor of Fowre, county Westmeath, lands of Fowre, a lough there called [Logheleyn], lands of Hilton, Carpenterston, Mylcasteltowne, Gilbertston, Rahen, Dromsawry, with a chapel and tithes, Comoylston, Lighill alias, Larkehill by the parts of the Breny, Fayron, Keneleighe, Ratheny, Donamore, Betaghton, Nynche, 13s. 4d. chief rents out of Nenaghe, in the said county, and the customs of the tenants ; the rectories of S. Mary (WM008-097002-) in Fower, S. Fekins (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archidiorum (WM004-035004-) in Fower, Fayron, Faghley, Mayne, Leigheblay, Dromiskille, Ragarf, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, in the counties of Meath and Westmeath, and diverse parsonages in the Breny. To hold the possessions of Fower, for 21 years from 1582, at a rent of £175 10s 8d., and maintaining five horsemen’ (ibid.). In 1578 the Crown granted a 5 year lease to William Dood ‘of the site of the abbey of Fower (WM004-035010-), co. Westmeath, and the lands in Fowre, Hilton, Carpenterstowne, Mylcastellton, Gilbertston, Raghin, Dromsawry, Comoylston, Leighill alias Larkehill, Firone, Kilmalighe, Rathenny, Donnamore, Ballynniskerry, Betaughston, the Ninche, and Nenaghe, and the tithes and alterages of the rectories of Fower (WM008-097002-), S. Fekyn (WM004-035003-) in Fower, Archediorum (WM004-035004-) of Fower, Fayron, Faughley, Mayne, Lighblay, Dormiskell, Ragarfett, Oldecastell, and Balmagarvy, counties of Meath and Westmeath. To hold for 5 years. Rent, £140’ (ibid., 479). In the same year the Crown granted a lease to William Pratt, Arland Uschere, and Charles Hewet of the ‘land in Fowre, co. Westmeath, called domus anchoristarum, parcel of the queen’s ancient inheritance’ (ibid., 453). Bishop Dopping's visitation of 1682-5 identifies Archidiorum as the anchorite's cell at Fore and records that it was then a chapel of St. Feichin's church (Ellison 1975, 7-8). The remains consist of a late 15th/16th century tower house with a nineteenth century mausoleum of the Nugent family, built in the style of a church, at its west end. A rectangular sandstone plaque above the mausoleum door notes that the tower house was used for that purpose since 1680 (Bradley et. al. 1985, 80). A rectangular sandstone plaque (WM004-035031-) above the Nugent mausoleum door in the Anchorite's Church notes that a tower house or castle (WM004-035030-) and chapel was rebuilt in 1680. The plaque bears the Nugent arms and a relief inscription in Roman capitals: THE RIGHT HONORABLE/ RICHARD NVGENT EARLE/ OF WESTMEATHE AT HIS OWN/ EXPENCES REBVILDED THIS/ CHAPLE AND CASTLE FOR/ THE BVRYINGE PLACE AND/ PIOVS VSE OF HIMSELFE AND/ HIS SVCESSORS ANNO/ DOMINI 1680 (Bradley et. al. 1985, 80).