Abbey (in Ruins) — Tubbrid

No upstanding remains appear to survive of Cistercian abbey of Tracton founded in 1225 by Odo de Barry and colonised from the Welsh abbey of Whitland (O'Sullivan 1939, 1-15; Gwynn and Hadcock 1988, 143-4; Stalley 1987, 249-50). Suppressed in 1640-1, 'the jurors reported that the abbey church had been the parish church from time immemorial and that all other buildings on the 2-acre site were necessary for the farmer' (Gwynn and Hadcock ibid.). Abbey remains pulled down in 17th century having been occupied by the Daunt family for two generations, who then built a new house 'presumably with its materials' (Power 1929, 29). Apparently C of I church, built in 1819 (CO099-043001-), occupies site of abbey church (Stalley ibid). However, Power (ibid, 27) describes 'a piece of very ancient wall (about 20ft in length by 8ft high) which probably was portion of the church (eastern gable)'. This stood at 'eastern boundary' (ibid.) of garden of Tracton Abbey house (5-bay, 2-storey gable-ended, late 18th/early19th century house) and immediately S of C of I church. This garden was trenched by the owner, Mr Coveney, in early part of this century, and 'quantities of carved stones, chamfered and moulded arch heads, sections of columns and broken window mullions' (ibid.) were uncovered. He also made 'an excavation ... to the original floor level and from the collected archivolt and voissoir [sic] fragments a small pointed arch (as if a sedilia) and around-headed arch (as if a founder's tomb) have been reconstructed, inaddition to one large pointed arch, seven feet wide' (ibid). This area now occupied by concrete farmyard and silage pit. Collection of some 20 carved stone fragments, mostly from window and door surrounds, and grave slab, now lie in overgrown area once part of garden; wall to E now partially obscured by large silage pit but appears of relatively recent construction (Wth 0.8m). Trapezoidal grave slab stands upright with narrow base buried in ground (it originaly lay flat over grave); decorated with eight-armed,ringed cross with fleur-de-lis terminals; shaft is flanked by geometric designs; probably of 14th/15th century date (see Bradley 1985 for parallels). Moulded stone basin from site now stands in grounds of Minane Bridge R.C. church (CO148-099-044----); further collection of fragments (CO112-039003-), including ogee-head of a window light, in grounds of Ardbrack near Kinsale; another collection in Kinsale in house formerly owned by Daunt family (pers. comm. Mary Lynch). Sheela-na-gig (CO099-088---) from site now in Cork Public Museum. 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