Kildermot Abbey

In pasture, situated in a remote and picturesque location on the narrow top of a NE−SW ridge overlooking the W shoreline of Ballymore Lake; the ridge slope falls steeply directly to the lake shore, which is less than 50m away. On the opposite side of the lake the Ox Mountains loom. Approximately 10m to NNW of the church the ground drops into a steep-sided natural hollow. The ground is more level to W.

This small, stone-built nave and chancel church, 12th-century in date, is named ‘Kildermot Church’ on the 1922 OS 6-inch map. It is a National Monument (No. 402) in state guardianship.

The church is aligned roughly NE−SW, reflecting the orientation of the ridge, but for simplicity will be described here as if on the traditional E-W alignment.

The nave (8.9m E−W; 6.3m N−S) is now outlined only by the basal course (Wth 0.6-0.7m; H 0.3m) of its walls, but the chancel (5.65m E−W; 5m N−S), located at the E end of the nave, is relatively intact. There is a distinct division between the nave and chancel, as the chancel is c. 0.8m narrower in width than the nave. Displaced fragments of worked stone (MA040-074004-) found within the church suggest that a carved stone arch or doorway stood between the nave and chancel, but no trace of this survives in situ.

The chancel walls (Wth 0.75-0.8m) are constructed of mortared random rubble, incorporating slabs and blocks of varying sizes, with large blocks used in the basal courses, and large squared, closely fitted quoins at the NE and SE angles. The E gable (H 2.6m) and S wall (H 2m) stand to almost their full height; the N wall (H 1.6m) has partly collapsed. The E gable stands on a narrow stone foundation plinth or off-set, projecting 0.15m, designed to level up the wall and compensate for the natural slope; this off-set is also visible along the E end of the S wall. In the centre of the gable is a narrow, round arched window (ext.: H 0.98m; Wth 0.18-0.25m) with a broad inward splay (Wth 1.15m; H 2.05m). The sill is c. 2m above exterior ground level, but c. 1m above current interior ground level, indicating the differential caused by the natural ridge slope and build-up over time of soil in the interior. The window has a sandstone surround, with the arch and sill each carved from a single sandstone block. The inward splay or embrasure (H 2.06m; Wth 0.16m) is defined by with a round-arched head of five shaped sandstones. At the outer edge of the springing of this arch there are two small hemispherical notches, one on either side of the window, each cut into the base of the lowest stone in the arch. The notches are likely to have held a frame to hang some form of window shutter or screen.

There are two recesses or wall cupboards, used to store the altar vessels, one at the E end of each sidewall: the one in the N wall (Wth 0.4m; H 0.23m; D 0.39m) is roughly square; the one in the S wall, L-shaped (Wth 0.36m; H 0.23m; D 0.4m at opening, extending 0.3m to S into the body of the wall).

The original entrance to the church is in the centre of the W wall of the nave, but is evident now only as a gap (Wth 0.75m) flanked on each side by a single stone, all that remains of the original jambs.

A stoup (MA040-074003-) and several fragments of cut stone (MA040-074004-) are now set in concrete within the chancel, along the S wall. The narrow strip of level ground surrounding the E and S side of the church was used as a children’s burial ground (MA040-074002-).