What is recorded here

One side panel of a broken chest tomb at Newtown Earley still displays a heart pierced by two swords, framed by hands and feet in an X pattern. Walter Kerin likely carved the whole tomb because he favoured that exact design. The pieces lay scattered in the church after a graveyard clean-up, waiting for someone to imagine the dead person who once rested beneath them.

Associated with the medieval church of Newtown Earley (KK027-012001-). A large number of graveslabs were uncovered during a clean-up of graveyard (KK027-012009-) in 1985-7 (Harte 1987, 408-17). These are currently lying within the interior of the church. Four slabs, consisting of a mensa or table top (KK027-012005-), front panel (KK027-012006-) and two side panels (KK027-012011- and KK027-012012-) are possibly from the same chest-tomb. These are described and illustrated by Harte (ibid. 411-14, nos. 18, 19, 21 and 22). This side panel (H 0.60m; Wth 0.68m) is decorated with a central heart pierced by two swords, with two hands displayed on either side above and two feet displayed on either side below, forming an X pattern (Harte 413, no. 22). Harte (ibid. 414) notes that this decorative scheme was one favoured by the sculptor Walter Kerin and thus is likely to be apart of the chest tomb with the mensa bearing his signature (KK027-012005-). Reference: Harte, R. 1987 Tombstones at Newtown Earley. Old Kilkenny Review 39, 408-17. See attached: KK027-012012-_01 Illustration from Harte 1987, 413, no. 22 Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 2 May 2023

Chest tomb, medieval period. Significance lies in its association with the graveyard of Newtown Earley church and the recovery of numerous graveslabs providing insight into local funerary practices.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.