What is recorded here

Thirteen graveslabs, including one bearing a faint four-armed cross, lay submerged in the River Nore beside a late medieval bridge. They were likely torn from a nearby graveyard and repurposed as bridge rubble, burying the dead beneath the feet of the living. The water stripped their surfaces smooth, yet the cross still emerges when light strikes the stone. They now rest in Magdalen Tower, waiting for someone to remember what the river forgot.

Thirteen graveslabs were recovered from the River Nore during the archaeological excavations (01E980) carried out in 2001-2003 as part of the River Nore Drainage Scheme (Doyle and O’Meara 2004, 6-20). These were found associated with the late medieval bridge (KK019-026070-), immediately N of the current John’s Bridge (ibid. 7). It is suggested that the graveslabs were deliberately cleared from a graveyard, possibly belonging to either St Mary’s parish church (KK019-026115-) c. 100m to the W or to St John’s Priory (KK019-026068-) c. 200m to the NE, and used as part of the rubble needed to form a protective apron for the piers of the late medieval bridge (ibid. 16-19). Currently stored in Magdalan tower (KK019-026074-), Maudlin St, Kilkenny. Fragment of a tapering limestone graveslab (01E0980: 2315), with bevelled edges, the top and bottom of which are missing (ibid. 12, 15-16). The slab (L 0.7m; Wth 0.45m; T 0.23m) was decorated with a cross in relief, however, the upper surface is heavily water worn and only the rough outline of the cross survives (ibid.). It is decorated with a plain centred four-armed cross, the form of the terminals is not discernible (ibid.). Stylistically this dates to the 13th/14th century (ibid.). See attached photograph: KK019-026427-_01 Photograph by Chris Corlett Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 16 January 2023

Medieval Christian graveslabs; 13th to 16th century. These slabs are significant as they provide insight into burial practices and social history in the medieval period, particularly in the St. John's parish area of Kilkenny.

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