A blog of sketches of historic buildings - Marks of Time

February 28th, 2017

28/2/2017

9. Medieval Gothic- Corrick Abbey
Corrick Abbey between Newtonstewart and Gortin demonstrates that the Gothic style of architecture introduced to the island with the Normans was known in the Strabane area. Tradition asserts that Enri Aimhreidh O’ Neill (d1392) gave both cattle and land free of tithe for the foundation of this abbey. The remaining structure has a window dating from the fifteenth century with the remains of two quatrefoil windows (four curves forming a cross) within the tracery at the top. These would have originally been set within a pointed arch.

454.

25/2/2017

8. Invaders - Pigeon Hill Motte, Newtonstewart
The way of life of the Strabane area was dealt a major blow by the coming of the Anglo-Normans to Ulster in 1177. This region was never settled by them but they attacked Ardstraw in 1197 and raided through the area again in 1199. One of the innovations they introduced to the island was the construction of mottes – timber palisade forts on top of a steep man made hill. This structure in Newtonstewart was constructed in the same fashion at a strategic bend in the River Strule. It appears to have been constructed much later, however, and was occupied up to the end of the Sixteenth century. The foundations of a rectangular stone castle have been recorded on top of the mound, though these can’t be seen today.

453.

24/2/2017

7. Early Christian era - Badoney Cross
Badoney Church in the Glenelly Valley is another early foundation reputedly associated with St Patrick and also a medieval parish church. There is little to see of this period in the modern graveyard apart from a marked hump and loose rubble, however, a small cross which is considered to be from this age was taken into the church for safe keeping in 1978. Such features are often associated with church sites and prefigure the more ornate high crosses of later generations.

452.

23/2/2017

6. Early Christian era- Camus Juxta Mourne church.
Closer to Strabane is the ruin of Camus Juxta Mourne Church. Reputedly founded by St Colgan in 586 it is the original parish church of what is now Strabane town. As with Ardstraw, the original church would have been in timber. The present stone built church is a rebuild of the medieval church and was ruined in the 1642 Rebellion. It has a small window on its east gable with a round head -the form of the Romanesque architectural style introduced to the island from Europe from the tenth century onwards.

February 22nd, 2017

22/2/2017

5. Early Christian era- Ardstraw Graveyard.
The Ui Fiachragh’s church at Ardstraw was reputedly founded by St Patrick and was under the charge of a bishop. By the early Seventh Century it was a monastery founded by St Eugene and a place of great importance. So important, in fact, that in 1099 it was recorded as having a stone church. This is earliest record of such a building in the north of Ireland outside of Armagh. The building would have had a steep roof echoing the form of its timber predecessor and all would have been enclosed by a circular wall similar to the graveyard boundary of today. The bridge below was a favoured place for negotiations between local lords in conflict, with agreements sealed in the church. The graveyard was the burial place of kings. Not just the Ui Fiachragh, but, on occasion, their overlords the Ui Neill and a branch of their successors in the medieval period: the O’Neill’s.

450

21/2/2017

4. Pre- Christian era- crannog, Island McHugh, Baronscourt
This island provides a link between pre-history and the late medieval history of the area with finds from the Neolithic (flint and pottery), Bronze Age (artificial extension of the island), Early Christian (main Crannog building) & Medieval periods (tower house). Crannogs are artificial islands built up in a series of stones and timber frameworks to provide a secure base for habitation. Often the home or retreat of a lord or king there are 1200 examples throughout Ireland and 347 in Scotland. This one, along with a nearby rath (circular earthwork) is associated with the king of the Ui Fiachragh people who occupied an area south of the River Mourne in the Early Christian period.

449.

20/2/2017

3. 2500 years ago- Clogherny Wedge Tomb

An apparently similar structure is Clogherny Wedge Tomb, which is located on high ground between Plumbridge and Donemanagh. However, it is much younger dating from around the Early Bronze Age of 2,500 years ago. It is surrounded by a ring of standing stones which were shown in an excavation of 1937 to be linked to the monument by cobbles. It may be that the stones are a later addition to the site and reflect the interest of a later generation.

448.

19/2/2017

2. 6000-4000 years ago- Ballyrenan Chambered Grave.

We start at one of the earliest built features in the area - Ballyrenan Chambered Grave, part of a series of such features near Baronscourt. Tucked away in remote places, this, and similar monuments, are a strong reminder that there has been human activity in this area for a very, very, long time. This structure could be 6000 years old. When excavated in 1907, a flint arrowhead & stone beads were found at the site. Further excavations in 1936 uncovered sherds of at least 4 Neolithic pots, worked flints & beads.

447. marks of time strabane.

18/2/2017

1 . The Barony of Strabane
The area around Strabane in Co Tyrone was once known as its ‘barony’. One of four divisions of the county, this now no longer has any administrative meaning but it provides a good focus for a study on the town and its area of influence. A wealth of historic buildings and structures can be found in this region. Taken together they illustrate its history, the influence of its unique geography and the impact of national and international ideas.

446.

11/2/2017

Thanks to all who supported and visited Marks of Time Strabane at the Alley Theatre.