Grave Yard — Foyran

Described in 1981 as 'the ruin of a rectangular church (WM001-042----) aligned ESE-WNW stands at the centre of a subrectangular walled graveyard. Built into the graveyard wall on the south side is a rounded window head. The head has a wide splay on the inside. The overall width of the window head is 90cms by 55cms deep, while the actual head of the rounded opening, a narrow loop or slit is 13cms wide. This head is of limestone and is of 12th or 13th century date. This window head may be the remains of the original east window of a 12th or 13th century church which was altered or extended by the addition of a chancel and tower above and a belfry at the west end in the 15th century. No definite remains of earthworks. Part of what seems to be a cloister pillar probably from Fore marks a grave to the SW of the church' (SMR file). An earlier site inspection carried out in 1980 records that the 'graveyard is a rectangular enclosure outlined by a relatively modern stone wall built against a bank of earth and stone on its inside, this may be due to presence of an earlier enclosing bank or the earth having been built up against the inside of the wall. An old field bank runs E-W up close to the NE corner of the graveyard wall. There is a gap about 1m wide between them. There is a stile and an iron gate in the S wall near the SW corner. There are no indications of an earlier monastic enclosure. A long straight bank-like mound of earth to the S of the graveyard and near the roadway seems to be due to upcast from a small stream running just inside the roadside fence. The graveyard contains 18th, 19th and 20th century grave stones' (SMR file). A holy well marked as 'Bishop Hugh's Well' (WM001-043----) is located c.235m to the SE. The remains of a wayside cross (WM001-041----) are located c.85m to SW and a second cross (WM001-040----) lies c. 240m to NW. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 December 2009