Stone head in Milltown (fore By.)

Stone head possibly of medieval date incorporated into fabric of SW gable of outbuildings dating from the late 19th century or early 1900s. According to local landowner the stone head was always in the gable of the outbuildings who thought it was contemporaneous with the outbuildings. It is possible that the stone head may have come from Faughalstown Church (WM007-045----) located 2.4km to the W or from Mortimers Castle (WM007-044---) located 3km to the W. Lichen covered round-shaped face with bulbous eyes, broken nose and thick lipped open mouth. Slight suggestions of grooving on forehead. Stone heads out of context like this carving are very difficult to date based on visual inspection alone as they can date from the Iron Age to the post-medieval period. The stone head possibly dates from the medieval period as it compares well with other stone heads which display grooving on forehead and thick lipped open mouth. The facial expression is very similar to the carved head (DU023-001004-) from Merrion Castle (DU023-001001-), Co. Dublin. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 2 November 2018

Likely of medieval origin, the stone head may have been repurposed from an earlier monument or boundary marker. Its inclusion in the gable may reflect local traditions of using ancient stones for protective or symbolic purposes.