What is recorded here

Thirteen graveslabs sank into the River Nore when builders cleared a local graveyard to reinforce a late medieval bridge. They lay hidden beneath the water for centuries, holding forgotten crosses and foliate designs from the 13th or 14th century. Recovery during the 2001-2003 drainage works brought them back to human sight, preserving the strange violence of reuse and the quiet patience of the river that kept them safe.

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: 2276) which consists of rectangular fragment (L 0.61m; Wth 0.32m; T 0.24m) which appears to have been cut, possibly for reuse as a building stone (ibid. 13, 14). Of the incised cross-head only the centre and sinister arm side survives, indicating that it was a simple three-armed cross with trefoil terminals (ibid.). From either side of the lower portion of the cross-shaft there springs a foliate design consisting of a stem with lobed terminal and a leaf, though that on the dexter side is truncated (ibid.). Stylistically this dates to the 13th/14th century. See attached photograph: KK019-026422-_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 medieval burial practices and funerary art in Kilkenny.

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