Brideswell Grave Yard — Brideswell Big

Described as ‘Brideswell Grave Yard’ on the 1839 ed. of the OS 6-inch map, and as ‘Brideswell Burial Ground’ on the 1940 edition of the map. It is situated on a gentle NW-facing slope. This is a triangular graveyard (dims. c. 40m NW-SE; c. 28m NE-SW) with a blunt apex at NE defined by an earth and stone bank. It contains two 19th-century gravestones, and a fragment of a bullaun stone. This is a piece of granite (dims 0.35m x 0.3m; surviving H 0.05-0.15m) with the base of a basin (diam. 0.17m; D 0.04m). Archaeological testing (04E1353) c. 30m to the W failed to produce an related archaeological material (Wiggins 2007), and archaeological testing (17E0427) immediately to the E had a similar result (Shanahan 2017; excavations.ie 2017: 250). Archaeological testing (16E0514) by T. Breen immediately to the NE produced no archaeological material (excavations.ie 2016:815). Bride's Well (WX005-038001-) is c. 150m to the NW with the remains of the conjoined masonry circular huts (WX006-038002-) adjacent. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 1 March 2012 Amended: 14 May, 2014; 19 September 2019; 23 October 2020