Site of Old Village

Baptistgrange, formerly called Achafad, was an important grange of St. John the Baptist's Dublin, an Augustinian Hospitallers/Fratres Cruciferi foundation (Gwynn and Hadcock 1988, 208-09, 212, 216). Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries the grange was leased, in 1541, to the countess of Ormond (ibid.). The deserted settlement is situated on a natural ridge which runs E-W, NW of the church (TS077-008001-) and graveyard (TS077-008007-), with a steep drop on the N side and a more gentle decline to W. There is no visible trace of any enclosing element on top edge of ridge which is all under lush pasture. The W side forms a very straight edge. The S side consists of a steep slope to the base of the ridge, with areas of exposed outcrop. The top of the ridge and towards the E edge is very flat. There is a long quarry running E-W towards the S edge. There is also a circular quarry. The E edge of the ridge slopes gently down. No visible trace of any earthworks, subtle features may be disguised by lush grass. Area S of graveyard wall seems to be the area of most activity. In adjacent farmyard, inserted in the door jamb of one of the outbuildings, there is in a sandstone chamfered window jamb with a glazing bar hole. According to Barry (1977, 166) the motte at Baptistgrange (TS077-011----) was located on the N bank of the River Moyle, at Allbert Bridge and was completely destroyed in the 1850s. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011