Main St, Roscrea

Area

49 m²

Buildings

3 buildings touch it, 234 m² on the ground

Zoning

M2 Urban Core (Roscrea Local Area Plan 2023_2029) The objective

Townland

Townparks

Planning applications on this parcel

No planning application touches this parcel in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches this parcel.

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 19 recorded monuments.

• TN012-010 Historic town
  Description

  Situated on a natural rise of ground in undulating countryside. Roscrea was originally an Early Christian monastic site (TN012-010001-/005-/006-) founded in the seventh century by St Cronán. In the early twelfth century, at the Synod of Rathbreasail, Roscrea was absorbed into the newly created diocese of Killaloe (Gleeson and Gwynn 1962, 62). Due to political pressure the separate diocese of Roscrea was created at the Synod of Kells in 1152, however, this was short-lived and the diocese of Roscrea was re-absorbed into Killaloe diocese at the end of the twelfth century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1988, 192). The Romanesque church (TN012-010001-), round tower (TN012-010005-) and high cross (TN012-010006-) all date to the twelfth century. An unusual carved stone pillar (TN012-010011-), late eighth century in date (Roe 1967, 131-2), reflects the craftsmanship/activity of the earlier monastic period. In the early thirteenth century a motte (TN012-010008-) was erected on or near the site of the present castle (TN012-01007-) which was built towards the end of the thirteenth century, with rebuildings and modifications continuing up to the seventeenth century. An impressive early eighteenth-century house now occupies the centre of the bawn (TN012-010007-). There are references to an Augustinian foundation in the twelfth century but this does not appear to survive into the thirteenth century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 192). The Franciscan friary (TN012-010010) to the south of the town, was founded in the fifteenth century, probably by Maolruony na Feasoige who died in 1443. In 1399-1400 the reeve and community were amerced with representatives of other boroughs (Martin 1981, 49; COD, 1350-1413, vol. 2, 244). Monastic site Situated within the town of Roscrea. A monastery was founded at Roscrea by St Cronán in the seventh century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 43). The Book of Dimma and the Roscrea brooch, both of which are dated to the eighth century, are products of this monastery (Cunningham 1994, 29). His first foundation was at Sean Ros (TN012-014----) near Monaincha, however due to its inaccessibility to travellers and pilgrims, the church was moved to Roscrea which was located on the 'Slíghe Dála' (Gleeson and Gwynn 1962, 60). Archaeological remains from this period consist of a graveslab dedicated to Rechtabhra which has been dated to the ninth century (Petrie and Stokes 1878, 39) while the decorated stone known as the Roscrea pillar has been dated to the late eighth century (Roe 1967, 131-2). A cross-inscribed slab which has been recently identified in the walls of Roscrea castle may also have come from the nearby monastery. Other ecclesiastical remains at Roscrea are the Romanesque church, a round tower, a high cross and the Franciscan friary. In 2002 archaeological trenching at Demesne, Dublin Road carried out by Alan Hayden for a commercial development revealed no archaeological features. This monitoring was carried out under Licence No. 02E0331 (Bennett 2004, 481). Archaeological monitoring carried out in 2002 by Christopher Road for an extension to the Health centre at Roscrean revealed no archaeological features. This monitoring was carried out under Licence No. 02E0033 (Bennett 2004, 481-2). In 2002 archaeological monitoring carried out by John Channing for a residential development at Glentara, Roscrea revealed no archaeological features. This monitoring was carried out under Licence No. 02E0710 (Bennett 2004, 482). Archaeological monitoring carried out in 2002 by Stuart Elder at No. 10 Main Street Roscrea revealed no archaeological features. This monitoring was carried out under Licence No. 02E1676 (Bennett 2004, 482). In 2002 archaeological testing carried out by Billy Quinn for a residential development revealed at Glebe View, Roscrea, revealed evidence for nine tanning pits of 19th century date. This testing was carried out under Licence No. 01E1125 (Bennett 2004, 482). The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

• TN012-010001 Church
  Description

  National Monument No. 126. The earliest church building in the town of Roscrea is the twelfth-century church dedicated to St Cronán located directly opposite the round tower (TN012-010005-) and adjacent to the twelfth-century high cross (TN012-010006-). The Royal Visitation of 1615 described the building as a 'church and chancell downe' (Murphy 1914, 222). The church was in good repair and used for service until 1812 when it was largely demolished with only the W gable (ext. dims. 33ft (10m) N-S) and a short section of the nave surviving (Gleeson 1915, vol. 2, 370; Harbison 1970, 235). The highly decorated W gable consists of a central round-arched triple-ordered decorated doorway flanked on either side by two round-arched blind arcades. Over the doorway there is a triangular-shaped pediment containing a full-length figure with a rosette on either side. There appears to have been several more rosettes but unfortunately due to decay these have disappeared (Harbison 1970, 235). Triangular-shaped pediments decorated with chevron decoration exist over the blind arcades. Moulded antae project from the gable. At a later stage a bellcote was constructed on the apex of the gable. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

• TN012-010002 Graveyard
  Description

  Situated immediately E of St.Cronán's Romanesque church (TN012-010001) and presently surrounding the Church of Ireland church of St. Cronán's. The graveyard contains a number of architectural fragments. Also discovered in the graveyard were two cross-slabs (TN012-010004). In the S wall of the graveyard there are three fragments of roll-moulded stone, including one piece that is part of an arch. They measure 0.15m x 0.14m; 0.34m x 0.18m and 0.29m x 0.28m. At time of inspection there were also two loose architectural fragments on a nineteenth-century altar tomb adjacent to the W wall of the graveyard, north of St. Cronán's Romanesque church. Both are pieces of limestone tracery. One is decorated with linear chiselling in parallel lines along the chamfered faces and inner face, the edges being left free. There is a glazing-bar hole in the middle of the inner face. This fragment appears to have been embedded in a concrete wall as some concrete and lime mortar are still attached to it. It measures 0.34m x 0.14m and the chamfer is 0.13m wide. The other fragment is roughly dressed and it also appears to have been embedded in a concrete wall as concrete is still attached to one side. There are glazing slots on both inner faces. The tracery has a chamfered edge on both sides, inner and outer. It is 0.42m long, the surface is 0.16m x 0.12m. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

• TN012-010003 Architectural fragment
  Description

  A number of fragments from the Franciscan friary in Roscrea, formerly located in the gardens of Birchgrove Hse, E of the town, are on display in Damer House. These consist mainly of fragments of tracery from the E window of the friary and a cloister base (Jackson 1939, 46-7). There is also a carved fragment with a Romanesque chevron design which is thought to come from St. Cronán's Romanesque church in Roscrea (TN012-010001-). A pointed doorway, traditionally said to have come from the Woman's Church at Monaincha was also formerly at Brichgrove (ibid.). Another architectural fragment is located on the bridge over the River Moneen, which leads from the ruins of the Franciscan friary (TN012-010010-) to St. Cronán's R.C. church. It is at the S end of the W side of the parapet and consists of a limestone cloister base, 0.91m long and a max. of 0.42m wide. It originally formed part of the cloister associated with the Franciscan friary. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

• TN012-010004 Cross-slab
  Description

  Situated immediately E of St. Cronán's Romanesque church (TN012-010001-) and presently surrounding the Church of Ireland church of St. Cronán's. The graveyard (TN012-010002-) contains a number of architectural fragments (TN012-010003-). Also discovered in the graveyard was one cross-slab and one inscribed stone (TN012-010004-; TN012-010015-). One, now in the National Museum, is a broken sandstone slab (0.55m x 0.44m x 0.05m) carved with a double-lined ringed cross carved in relief in a two-line frame (Crawford 1912, 240). There is an inscription under the ring of the cross which reads 'Rechtabra'. It has been dated to the ninth century (Petrie and Stokes 1878, vol. 2, 39). The other inscribed slab (TN012-010015-) is lost. It had an inscription in two lines "OROIT DO U CHERBAILL OROIT DO RIG ELE" (Okasha & Forsyth 2001, 217). Described by Okasha and Forsyth as `The text is incised in three horizontal lines across the two quadrants below the cross-arms, between the ring and the bar. ... Enough of the upper quadrants survive to indicate that they were not inscribed' (Okasha/Forsyth/2001, 215). According to Petrie this name may perhaps be identified with that of the person mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters when in 898 AD the annals record the death of 'Reachtabhra, of Roscre, died' (Petrie 1878, 39). According to Okasha & Forsyth`The stone was found `in the churchyard of Roscrea' and was known in 1870 when it was drawn by a Miss Boxwell .. No further details of the circumstances of discovery are recorded. In 1878 it was in the possession of Stokes. It later formed part of the Royal Irish Academy's collection, which was transferred to the NMI in 1890' (Okasha & Forsyth 2001, 214). This slab is now housed in the National Museum of Ireland (Cat: reg. no. x2903). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

• TN012-010005 Round tower
  Description

  National Monument No. 126. Situated in the NE part of Roscrea town directly across from St Cronan's Romanesque church (TN012-010001-). In 1131/1135 the round tower was struck by lightning (Gleeson and Gwynn 1962, 63). An impressive well-preserved six-storey round tower (int. diam. 2.5m) constructed with coursed sandstone masonry supported on a basal plinth. At SE at first-floor level is a round-headed moulded doorway with an internal reveal for the door. There are three windows on the tower including two flat-headed single-lights at second and fourth-floor level and a triangular-headed window facing E at second-floor level. A single-masted ship is carved on the internal N jamb of the latter window (Barrow 1979, 189) with a possible belted cross on the opposite jamb (Stout 1984, 99). After the 1798 rebellion the tower was shortened by c. 6m by the army authorities after it had been used by snipers shooting at the castle (Harbison 1970, 235). According to Gleeson the tower was used as a belfry until the present C of I church was built in 1812 (Gleeson 1915, vol. 2, 372). The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

• TN012-010006 Cross - High cross (present location)
  Description

  National Monument No. 126. High Cross replica now stands in the grounds of St Cronán's C of I graveyard in Roscrea town with the Romanesque church (TN012-010001-) and round tower (TN012-010005-) to the S and W respectively. Original twelfth-century sandstone high cross was moved in 2004 from this location and is now housed 55m to the NW inside the OPW Black Mills Interpretative centre (TN012-010014-). Described by Harbison (1992, vol. 1, 162-3) as following; 'The lower fragment of the shaft is 1.78m high, 80cm wide and about 40cm thick at the bottom. The upper fragment, comprising most of the head, is now 1.2m tall, and although the south arm has been broken away, it must have measured about 1.50m across the arms originally. There seems to have been a small rope moulding on the edges of the shaft. On the east and west faces the decorated panels are seperated by horizontal raised mouldings. The surviving armpit has a stepped outline, and there is the remnant of a volute on the interior surface of the ring. There is also an exterior volute or cushion-moulding where the exterior surface of the ring meets the shaft and the arm. The whole surface of the cross is sadly worn and pitted, but the carved figures in relief suggest that, in its original state, it must have been one of the most splendid of the 12th century crosses in Ireland. Lower fragment of shaft: EAST FACE E 1 : ADAM AND EVE - Adam and Eve stand, seemingly clothed, on either side of a tree with a thick trunk. E 2-3 : Two badly worn panels, apparently bearing animal interlace. E 4 : Possibly a centaur with two figures behind, one seemingly blowing a pipe of Pan, all proceeding towards the left. SOUTH SIDE S 1 : A Bishop of Abbot. - A long robed figure in high relief with a cloak (held together by a brooch?) and bearing an inturned crook in right hand. S 2 : Above the figure in relief there seems to be a panel bearing the lower portion of two frontal figures. WEST FACE A number of panels of much abraded animal interlace. NORTH SIDE A long robed figure in high relief, belted at the waist and with belt-ends hanging down in front. The hands of the figure are down by the side. The head, which was inserted seperately, is now missing. Head EAST FACE Bishop or Abbot - A bishop or abbot, dressed in a (?) chasuble, the pleats of which can be seen from the side, holds a crozier with both hands in front. His mitre is difficult to make out, but it seems to have risen to a triangle on the south side. The north arm bears a circular depression. SOUTH SIDE The south arm and ring have been replaced by a modern substitute. However, a small portion of the top of the shaft survives, showing the upper part of a panel bearing the heads of two human figures. WEST FACE : THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST Christ, probably bearded and with his hair falling down onto his shoulders, stretches out his emaciated long arms, that on the right being a modern replacement. He is apparently clad in a long robe with a belt at the waist. NORTH SIDE At the top of the shaft there is a panel bearing indeterminate sculpture in low false relief. Between the cushion moulding at the top and bottom of the underside of the ring there is an animal interlace with two serpents with widely-opened mouths at the top and bottom, intertwined by a narrower beast. Part of the end of the arm has been cut away. There may have been figure sculpture at the top of the shaft, but if so, it is now unrecognisable'. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Updated by: Caimin O'Brien Date of updated revision: 8 April 2015

• TN012-010007 Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
  Description

  National Monument No. 211. Situated in the town of Roscrea on rising ground with the River Bunnow immediately to the E and a church, round tower and friary nearby (TN012-010----). A timber castle, referred to in 1245 as a moat and wooden tower (mote et britagium) (Cal. doc. Ire. vol. 1, no. 2760), was built at Roscrea by the king's council in 1213 (Cunningham 1987, 71-4). It was built on church property and, according to an inquisition of 1245, the bishop stopped the work and threatened to excommunicate the justiciar and his men. However, he was persuaded to allow them to continue with the promise of compensation (Cal. doc. Ire. vol. 1, no. 2760) and, throughout the remainder of the 13th century, there are many references in official administration documents to the castle (Cal. doc. Ire. vols. 1-3, passim). Between 1278 and the early 1280s there are references to building works at Roscrea when the castle was rebuilt in stone under the direction of John de Lydyard (PRI rep. DK 36th, 47; Cal. doc. Ire. vol. 2, nos. 1570, 2336; vol. 3, no. 169). In 1315, when Edmond Butler was created first earl of Carrick, he was granted the manors and castles of Carrick and Roscrea (Curtis 1932, 207-8). Roscrea remained in Butler hands until 1703, when it was sold by the 2nd duke of Ormond. In the later 16th century the castle was in the possession of Sir Edmund Butler, a brother of the 10th earl, and Sir Edmund's son Piers, who was executed in 1597 (Gleeson 1947, 63-5). In 1631 Roscrea was leased to Mary Butler a daughter of the 11th earl of Ormond and her husband, Sir George Hamilton the elder (Manning 2001, 149-54). Hamilton appears to have died by the mid-1650s and his only son by Mary Butler died without issue in 1658. The castle was captured by Owen Roe O'Neill in 1646 and by the Cromwellians in 1650. It was described in the Civil Survey 1654-6 as 'one castle and a bawne with two turrets In Roscrea Inhabitted being in Repayre' (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 29) with the proprietor in 1640 being the Countess of Ormond. The Cromwellian garrison was still there in 1659 when 37 soldiers and their wives were recorded as being stationed there (Pender 1939, 318). A fine three-storey over basement house, called Damer House, was built within the castle in the early 18th century. The complex was used as an army barracks for most of the 19th century and is now a National Monument. The stone castle was built on the site of the early thirteenth-century timber castle and probably partly followed its outline. This is one of Leask's keepless castles with gatehouse at N, curtain wall and flanking angle towers at E and W (Leask 1936, 180-81) (int. dims. 57m E-W; 60m N-S; wall T 2.6-3.4m). The gatehouse (ext. dims. 17.2m E-W; 11.5m N-S; wall T 2.9m) stands three storeys high constructed with roughly coursed sandstone rubble which had Jacobean-style chimney stacks added in the seventeenth century and a slate roof added in the nineteenth century (Stout 1984, 117). Originally the castle was defended externally by the river to the E and a rock- cut moat (Wth 3m) which was discovered running along the W wall beside the SW tower (ibid., 121). A drawbridge and portcullis and an overhead machicolation of later date protected the main entrance at the gatehouse. The barrel vault over the gate-passage has been mostly reconstructed during the recent restoration and leads into the courtyard. Opposing doorways were built in the modern side walls of the passage but no evidence survived to suggest there were ever doors at these points. The ground-floor rooms at each side of the passage have original doorways in the south wall giving access from the courtyard. The W chamber has a basement prison accessed only through a trap door. A spiral stairs in the E wall of the gatehouse gives access to the upper floors. Also accessed off the spiral stairs at first-floor level was a pointed-arched doorway, which leads onto the wall-walk of the curtain wall at the NE angle. A large chamber with an impressive triple-bay groin-vaulted ceiling fills the entire first floor and is lit by large modern lancet-type windows set into large segmental-arched embrasures. The remains of an impressive fireplace are situated in the middle of the S wall and consist of engaged shafts rising from a decorated base with dogtooth decorated capitals which supported a stone canopy, now partly destroyed. The mouldings on the engaged columns and fireplace canopy are of the roll with frontal fillet type. The portcullis and drawbridge machinery was housed on the northern side of this chamber. A doorway in the NW angle gives access to a mural passage in the W wall, which leads to a garderobe contained within a heightened section of the curtain wall. The large chamber at second-floor level is, in its present form, a secondary feature. Originally it had low north and south side walls on the inner side of wall-walks with parapets and its roof abutted the east and west end sections of the gatehouse, which continued upwards to a higher level. Water from the roof flowed along these wall-walks to exit through gargoyles at the corners. Three of these redundant gargoyles survive in place. In a secondary phase of building the original north and south side-walls were removed and replacements built in line with the outer north and south faces of the tower. These walls contain tall segmental-arched window embrasures. An entrance in the W splay of the S window embrasure gives access to a mural passage, which leads to a spiral stairs from which the wall-walk and several mural chambers are accessed. A doorway at the W end of the N wall of the second-floor chamber gives access to a mural passage which leads to a spiral staircase in the NW angle which leads up to the wall-walk. Also accessed off the same passage is a flight of stairs, which leads down to the protruding SW angle tower. Here there is a doorway from which the wall-walk of the W curtain wall was accessed. A reused Early Christian cross-inscribed slab (TN012-010013-) was used as a door lintel in this mural passage. A third floor was inserted above the second floor in the 17th century and a number of fireplaces were added on the second and third floors. The curtain wall is pierced by several plunging cross-loops in large segmental-arched embrasures. A large gateway is situated off-centre to the S on the W portion of the curtain wall and was possibly blocked up when the construction of the castle was complete. The SW angle tower (ext. diam. 8.2m; wall T 2m) consists of three storeys with a gabled roof (modern) and a tall rectangular chimney stack and has a ground-floor entrance at E. There is also a first-floor doorway to E and doors leading onto the W and S wall-walks of the curtain wall. There are long cross-loops with sandstone surrounds providing flanking fire along the W facade of the curtain wall. A pointed doorway at the W end of the S wall beside the SW angle tower is a postern, which was protected externally by a drawbridge and by a later machicolation accessed from the wall-walk of the curtain wall. An impressive array of putlog holes is visible on internal face of the curtain wall along the W side. The SE angle tower consists of a D-shaped two-storey building (ext. dims. 10m E-W; 9m N-S; wall T 2.2m) with a gable at the west end. The 19th-century roof has recently been repaired. The tower possesses an impressive vaulted basement while the first floor was greatly altered in the eighteenth-century. Damer House (TN012-010009-), an imposing eighteenth-century house, was constructed in the S side of the courtyard with a large gateway of similar date and D-shaped gate lodge piercing the N side of the curtain wall and occupying the NE angle of the courtyard respectively (Stout 1984, 116). The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain

• TN012-010008 Castle - ringwork
  Description

  No visible remains of the fortification erected by the Norman forces in 1213 on the termon lands of St Cronan (Stout 1984, 112). In 1213 the king commanded Henry, Archbishop of Dublin, to give to Reginald de Pontibus full seisin of the castles of Dorles, Roskere (Roscrea), Armolen and Kakaulis, which belonged to Theobald Walter (Cal. doc. Ire vol. 1, no. 514). The present stone castle and bawn (TN012-010007-) may have been built on the site of an earlier fortification which was described as a 'mote et britagium' in 1245 (Cunningham 1987, 124). The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

• TN012-010009 House - 18th/19th century
  Description

  Located within the curtain wall of Roscrea castle (TN012-010007-). Known as 'Damer House', this is an early eighteenth-century house, three storeys over basement with nine bays, built of coursed sandstone rubble. It has simple architraves, keystones and moulded sills and a cornice, wide eaves and hipped roof in the early eighteenth-century style (Craig 1982, 22). The central doorway, with steps up to it, has fluted Corinthian pilasters and a scroll pediment. It has retained its original carved staircase which is elaborately panelled underneath (ibid). The house was used as a barracks for most of the nineteenth century, then as a school, after which it housed the County Library and Engineering Offices (Bence-Jones 1988, 99). After a period of neglect the building was saved from demolition in the 1970s by the Irish Georgian Society and restored (ibid.) . The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

And 9 more.

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

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Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.