What is recorded here

Thirteen graveslabs, possibly taken from St Mary’s parish church or St John’s Priory, were mortared into the piers of the late medieval bridge to strengthen them against the river. One surviving fragment still displays a four-armed cross with fleur-de-lis terminals, its dexter arm broken and lozenge centre open. The dead became ballast for the living, their markers buried beneath bridge traffic and water pressure. They re-emerged only when modern drainage works cut through the medieval rubble.

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. Portion of a limestone graveslab (01E0980: 2277) was found mortared into the base of one of the piers of the late medieval bridge (ibid. 8-9). It consists of a rectangular fragment (L 1.2m; Wth 0.54-0.58m; T 0.25m), tapering towards the base (ibid. 11; 14). Both sides of the top of the slab, as well as the base of the slab, are missing (ibid.). It is decorated with a four-armed incised cross with fleur-de-lis terminals, though the dexter terminal is broken off (ibid.). The cross-head has an open lozenge-shaped centre (ibid.). Stylistically this graveslab dates to the 13th/14th century. See attached photograph: KK019-026420-_01 Photograph by Chris Corlett Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 16 January 2023

Graveslabs recovered from the River Nore, likely medieval in date, represent funerary monuments associated with early Christian or monastic activity in Kilkenny. Their recovery from the river highlights historical changes in the landscape and the impact of flooding or deliberate deposition on archaeological remains.

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