Britway Church (in Ruins)

Near W end of graveyard (CO045-088001-), fragmentary ivy-clad ruins of Britway parish church. W gable (internal Wth 5.2m) and attached 10.8m length of N wall stand to near full height; short section of W end of S wall and second section c. 8m to E (L c. 5.2m) partially stand; otherwise walls entirely fallen. Central doorway in W wall (see ill. Petrie 1845,180) with semi-circular arch and slightly inclined jambs; framed on outside by shallow architrave rising to 'cap-like' crown on keystone. Inserted lintel at top of jambs, area above infilled; doorway shows signs of repair when lintel inserted. Antae project at either end of W wall: to N intact (Wth 0.8m; projection 0.3m), rising to height of side wall; only part of base left to S. Round-headed window (see photo. Currey 1894, 130) in N wall (6.9m from NW corner, on inside). Church in ruins by 1615 (Brady 1863, vol.2, 63). Leask (1977, vol. 1, 69) compares with nearby Coole church (CO036-019002-), suggesting 'both may even be the work of the same mason'; Harbison (1970, 53) gives 'a 12th or 13th century' date; Johnson (1991, 28) dates it to c. 1110- 1120. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009