Innishannon Tower

In centre of graveyard (CO097-05406-), at E end of Inishannon. Ruins of rectangular church (int.: 15.5m E-W; 7.28m N-S) to which have been added: semicircular apse (int.: 3m E-W; 6m N-S) on E gable; tall 3-storey castellated tower (4.7m N-S; 4.6m E-W) against outside of W gable; and one-storey annexe (5.2m N-S; 5.5m E-W) at centre of N wall. Two window opes with segmental arches in both N and S walls; wide central window in apse missing upper part; blocked (when tower added) window high on W gable with segmental arch. Tower, with string course between floors, has narrow pointed window opes on each floor; shallow masonary pillasters at each corner. Narrow pointed doors on W and E walls of tower form entry into church; latter door built into wider round-arched door ope. N wall of nave formed into gable for annex; date of 1801 cut into keystone over door in W wall of annexe. Interior of church filled with burial vaults and railed-in grave plots, the earliest noted dating from 1860s. According to Cole (1907,58) church rebuilt in 1761-2; at this time used by Huguenot settlers for worship (St. Leger 1991, 46-7). Addition of tower and apse probably contemporary with annexe (1801), the latter reputedly built for the Huguenots (ibid). Dismantled in 1856 when new church (CO097-054002-) built on N side of village (Cole ibid.). On site of ancient parish church of Inishannon; church here reported in repair in 1615 & 1639 and 'in good repair' in 1699 (Brady 1863, vol. 1, 123-4) but surviving remains have no appearance of being earlier than mid 18th century. Church abandoned when new church built near W end of village in 1856. Known locally as 'Cistercian Tower' but no such foundation listed by Gwynn and Hadcock (1988) or Stalley (1987).