Stone head in Ardfinnan, County Tipperary

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.

What is recorded here

Read the whole record

On the W side of Ardfinnan bridge (TS088001002-) at its N end. The sculpted head was embedded in the masonry of the mill (TS088-001003-) and was most likely on its E wall as there was a tradition (particularly among the women of the district) of spitting upon it from the bridge side (Courtenaye 1871, 507). Nothing of the former mill remains. The mill buildings presently on the site are 19th/20th century structures. The sculpted head is long since lost and indeed there was no memory of it among some of the older generation mill-workers when asked in July 1993. Tradition has it that the sculpted female head popularly designated 'Jane Squib's head', is that of the castle cook of the reign of King John. During the course of the construction of the castle, the masons were wont to ask the cook for titbits from the kitchen, ...'but she having declined to yield to their solicitations, they vented their disappointment and spleen against her, by setting up a caricature of her in this conspicuous manner, heaping every possible indignity upon it, which observance towards it was handed down to posterity' (ibid.).

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record TS088-001004

Places near here

Photo credits

Maker not stated on source page, fi.pinterest.com
Maker not stated on source page, commons.wikimedia.org
Maker not stated on source page, www.pinterest.com
Mike Searle, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Tipperary GAA official county club-focus article; individual photographer not stated, tipperary.gaa.ie
Maker not stated on source page, uk.pinterest.com
Maker not stated on source page, www.dreamstime.com

St. Finnian's CemeteryCemetery · 86 yd

Explorer Tom St. Finnian's Cemetery in County Tipperary has a deep suspicion of the postman, convinced he is delivering bills to…

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in ArdfinnanFairy fort / earthen ringfort · 137 yd

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Ardfinnan wants 'Here Lies A Mound' on its tombstone, not 'Ringfort'. It’s covered in…

TombTomb, chest tomb · 140 yd

Explorer Tom Tomb in Ardfinnan has very strong opinions about modern buildings and thinks they’re all made of cardboard. It features…

Ardfinnan CastleCastle · 380 yd

Explorer Tom Ardfinnan Castle is built like Saint Patrick would have designed it, which means it’s all about showing off and hoping…

mill (water)438 yd

Explorer Tom The Mill in Ardfinnan has an M-shaped roof that looks like it’s doing a very dramatic impression of a mountain range.…

bridge493 yd

Explorer Tom Bridge in Ardfinnan has a drama with the nearest tree that involves leaf-biting and territorial squabbling over who…

Catholic Church of the Holy FamilyChurch/chapel · 646 yd

Explorer Tom Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Ardfinnan Pr claims a fake royal visit that nobody can actually disprove because…

The Old Parochial HousePresbytery/parochial/curate's house · 1080 yd

Explorer Tom The Old Parochial House in Kilballygorman shows its long sides to visitors, which is basically saying 'look how big I…

Ardfinnan GAA pitchGAA ground · 1253 yd

Lacken HouseHouse · 1693 yd

Explorer Tom Lacken House in Lacken is derelict with boarded-up windows but still managing to look like it’s planning a very…

Neddans church (in ruins)Church · 1.1 mi

Explorer Tom Neddans church had a love story with the river that went badly wrong. The water won, obviously, because rivers always…

Lady's Abbey GraveyardGraveyard · 1.2 mi

Explorer Tom Lady's Abbey Graveyard is run by a dog who believes he is the rightful heir to the abbey and charges entry in the form…

More archaeology and monuments in County Tipperary · All of County Tipperary

Add to this placeAdd a picture Add a detailed tip Add a story

Explore the map1,095,414 places to discover