Grave Yard — Corbetstown

Medieval ruins of Kilpatrick Church (WM020-049----) stands in N quadrant of rectangular shaped graveyard (approx. dims. 46m N-S x 38m E-W) enclosed by a post-1700 stone wall with coffin stand and entrance gate at E. Curving section of graveyard boundary wall at NE may follow line of early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (WM020-049002-). A loose carved ogee-shaped window head has been used as a grave marker outside the SE corner of the church. A low embankment of earth and stone extends to S from the SE corner of the graveyard. There is a slight bank to SE and W of this embankment. There is a slight depression at the SE corner and at the NNE. The area within is a level platform. St Patrick's or Scardan Well (WM020-056----) 660m to E. In 1980 excavations inside the graveyard were carried out by D. L. Swan and his findings were summarised as following; ' A small cutting was opened within the churchyard to the north of the church ruins (WM020-049----), revealing the foundation of the north wall. Although there were no surface indications, in it considerable concentration of human burial was encountered at less than 40cm below the surface. In all, in a cutting 2.5 x 5m over 40 individuals were represented, infants and young children accounting for 32 of these. Of the remaining adults and adolescents, where sex could be determined, time proportions of male to female were roughly equal. Almost all of these burials were stratified between a construction layer and a collapse layer relating to a reconstruction of the church and its final collapse. Beneath the construction layer a number of enigmatic features was encountered including a deep trench and part of a rectangular feature, both cutting deeply into the boulder clay. Some postholes were also identified, which may have related to the latter feature. A number of bone pins was recovered, together with three fragments of F ware, portion of a copper alloy strip and a tiny, but beautifully made, copper alloy bird set on a ribbed tang. This object is best paralleled by a somewhat similarly shaped object from the excavations at Whitby in Yorkshire. A second kiln of the ‘key-hole’ type was located within the western sector, which contained substantial deposits of grain and burned material. In this area too, a series of very large well-defined curving trenches with associated postholes up to 60cm+ in diameter was uncovered, indicating the presence here of a large structure, probably circular in shape. Towards the centre of this sector an area of much disturbance was opened, which yielded quantities of medieval pottery, together with a carefully concealed large iron key, probably the key of the 15th- or 16th-century church' (excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 04 July 2019