Indicated — Unknown Townland

Christchurch cathedral is believed to have been co-founded by Sitric Silkbeard, King of Dublinc.994-1036 and Dunan , Bishop of Dublin (d. 1074). In the 12th century Laurence O'Toole introduced a monastic chapter to the cathedral in the form of the Augustinian Canons. As part of the suppression of the monasteries, the chapter was secularised in 1541 AD. In 1512 AD Gerald Earl of Kildare built St. Mary's chapel in the choir. The cathedral was fully restored in the late 19th century. The doorway in the N transept was moved to the S transept in 1831 AD. This has two major orders of chevron arches and four worn capitals. Fragments of this in the crypt include a monster-head capital and the keystone of an archdecorated with a human face biting on a moulding. The cathedral is cruciform in plan with a tower at the crossing. The N side of the nave dates to 1216-1234AD. The first five bays were completed by 1234 when the cathedral chapter sought royal permission to block a lane in order to lenghten and widen the church (Sweetman 1875-6, I, No. 2178). The main arcade has massive piers surrounded by a cluster of shafts. Only the N arcade is original. A fragment of the medieval building survives embedded in the modern chapter house adjoining the cathedral to the N of the 14th century choir. The chancel was demolished in the 14th century. It had a three stage elevation. A number of the present capitals are highly decorated with a sculpture of a shepherd, two sheep, fruit dragons and humans. The transepts are Romanesque in style and date from the late 12th-century. The chapter house adjoining the cathedral on the S side is 13th century date. In 1890 burials were found with remains of a tiled pavement (Drew 1890, I). The excavations also uncovered portions of the calefactory and cloister walks. There are a number of medieval artifacts, effigies and wall memorials housed in the cathedral. These include a 15th century piscina, 17th century lectern; the effigy of a knight c. 1330 reputedly Strongbow which lies under the S arcade of the nave, two effigies of women of 13th century date and an effigy of a 13th century archbishop in the choir. There are wall memorials commemorating Henry Sydney 1577; Francis Asgard 1584. The Peace chapel of St Laud off the choir contains a medieval reliquary of the heart of St. Laurence O'Toole and on the floor there is a vast assemblage of medieval floor tiles (UASCD, 1987, I, 62-72).