Grave Yard — Townparks (imokilly By., Middleton Par.)

Set back on W side of Main Street in Midleton, L-shaped graveyard (c. 60m E-W; c. 80m N-S) enclosed by stone wall, well kept. On or near site of Cistercian abbey of Chore (CO076-06303-); C of I church (CO076-06302-) to S of centre. Large collection of 18th and 19th century headstones, table and chest tombs; earliest noted headstone in Imokilly here dated 1698: rectangular slab, decorated at base only with 'Angelic Form with Trumpet, surmounting a Skull and Crossbones, symbolic of the Resurrection and Mortality' (O'Shea 1988, 68). Earliest 18th century headtone dated 1708; decorated with 'Cross and Sacred Monogram in false relief'; otherwise headstones date from 1730s onwards. Two fine neo-Classical 18th century mausolea against inside of E boundary wall (Chinnery and Broderick tombs, inscriptions given by McDonnell 1921-5). Sundial in graveyard made from top of spire blown down in 1903. 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