Ferns Demesne

44 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ferns Demesne, from 21 m² to 456,517 m² (45.65 ha, 112.81 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 33 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

No zone of a development plan covers Ferns Demesne in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 1 May 2026Refused

  permission for the constructionof a new replacement dwelling, detached ancillary

  Extension of duration · Wexford County Council, 20211145

• 26 Aug 2022Granted (conditional)

  Permission to erect a dwelling house with services & domestic garage

  Permission, 2 homes · Wexford County Council, 20221139

• 7 Jun 2022Granted (conditional)

  Permission to erect a dwelling house with services & domestic garage

  Permission, 2 homes · Wexford County Council, 20220764

• 12 Apr 2022Refused

  Permission for retention of existing building on site which consists of part

  Retention, 1 home · Wexford County Council, 20220474

• 22 Mar 2022N/a

  Permission for retention of existing domestic garage as a change of position

  Retention, 2 homes · Wexford County Council, 20220369

• 20 Jan 2022Granted (conditional)

  Permission for the erection of a fully serviced detached part two storey, part o

  Permission, 2 homes · Wexford County Council, 20220057

• 31 May 2021Granted (conditional)

  Permission for Retention of alterations to the elevations of the existing dwelli

  Retention, 1 home · Wexford County Council, 20210846

• 31 May 2021Refused

  Permission for Retention of the existing domestic garage as a change of position

  Retention · Wexford County Council, 20210847

• 2 Nov 2020Refused

  Permission for retention of convestion of permitted domestic store to

  Retention, 1 home · Wexford County Council, 20201276

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

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: Slaney River Valley SAC 000781

Recorded monuments

• WX015-003004 Religious house - Augustinian canons
  Description

  Situated towards the bottom of an E-facing slope, and c. 50m S of the chapter house of Ferns cathedral (WX015-003003-). Dermot Mc Murrough founded St Mary's Abbey for Augustinian canons c. 1158-62, although it may have been earlier (O’Keeffe 1997, 63). It was burned in 1159 or 1166, but Dermot rebuilt it and he was buried there in 1171. The abbey was plundered and burnt again by Irish forces during the Bruce wars (c. 1317). The position of abbot was hotly disputed in the mid-15th century. William Doyle was the last abbot at its suppression in 1538 when it was described as a church and belfry, dormitory, chapter-house, hall and other buildings with c. 600 acres and other interests. In 1583 it was granted to Thomas Masterson. (Gwynne and Hadcock, 1970, 175-6) The N wall of the nave (ext. dims 16.4m E-W; c. 9m N-S) and chancel (ext. dims 6.35m E-W; 6.67m N-S) survive to the full height (c. 5m) with the foundations of the other walls. A round tower with a square base (Barrow 1979, 196) is attached to the W wall of the nave. It is entered from the nave and a newel stairs rises to a doorway overhead probably leading to a gallery. Above the roof level the tower is round and divided into two levels, the upper with four square lights (Anon. 1864-8, 132). A sacristy with a room overhead beneath an E-W barrel-vault is attached to the N of the chancel. There is ribbed vaulting in the chancel and round-headed recesses in the chancel and the sacristy. The original entrance was probably at the W where the base of a column with two orders is visible at the angle of the nave and tower. Two crude cross-bases are now within the nave. There is no evidence of an enclosure or burial but evidence of the cloister garth (dims c. 21.6m E–W; c. 19.75m N–S) was uncovered in the 19th century attached to the S (Anon. 1909–10, 4–5). A geophysical survey (15R052) comprising magnetic gradiometry and limited electrical resistance in an area of about 4 ha (c. 10 acres) around the remains produced evidence of the cloister and a field system (ME015-003034-) (Dowling 2015, 10). The abbey is built over the inner of two ditches recorded in the survey that form an ecclesiastical enclosure (wx015-003031-) around the early monastery (WX015-003002-) (ibid. 9). Just SE of the abbey the same survey recorded evidence of an enclosure (WX015-003032-) around a masonry structure (WX015-003033-). This is a National Monument in state ownership: No. 133. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Cmpiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 22 February, 2019

• WX015-003017 Cross
  Description

  The remnants of a crude cross-base in granite with a rectangular socket are now lying in the nave of the Augustinian churdh (WX015-003004-). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003018 Cross
  Description

  The remnants of a crude cross-base in granite with a circular socket are now lying in the chancel of the Augustinian churdh (WX015-003004-). It might be a fragment of an unfinished millwheel. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003022 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Archaeological monitoring (98E0132) of a sewage pipe recorded a pit or a fosse terminal (Wth of top 1m; D 0.2m) that contained medieval pottery in the S side of the trench. It is c. 80m S of St. Mary's Abbey (WX015-003004-). (Ryan 1998, 2-5) Compiled by: Michael Moore 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003028 Round tower
  Description

  A round tower with a square base (Anon. 1910-11, 3-4; Barrow 1979, 196) is attached to the W wall of the nave of St. Mary's Abbey (WX015-003004-). It is entererd from the nave and a newel stairs rises to a doorway overhead, probably leading to a gallery. From the roof level the tower is round and divided into two levels, the upper with four square lights (Anon. 1864-8, 132). It is a National monument. (Ffrench 1895, 403; Leask 1955, vol. 1, 163–4; Harbison 1975, 247; O'Keeffe 1997, 57-60) O’Keeffe, T. (1997) Diarmait Mac Murchada and Romanesque Leinster. JRSAI, vol. 127, 52-79. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003032 Enclosure
  Description

  Located on a gentle E and NE-facing slope c. 120m from a small NW-SE stream. St Mary’s Augustinian abbey (WX015-003004-) is built over the inner fosse of the ecclesiastical enclosure (WX015-003031-) around St. Aedan or Máedóg’s early monastery (WX015-003002-), which was identified in a magnetic gradiometry survey (15R042) (Dowling 2015, 9). Just SE of the abbey the same survey recorded a subcircular enclosure (int. dims c. 60m NW-SE; c. 50m NE-SW) defined by interrupted sections of a fosse (Wth c. 3-4m). It could have an entrance at SW leading to the open SW end of a double-aisled masonry structure (WX015-003033-) (ibid. 10). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 22 February 2019

• WX015-003033 Structure
  Description

  Located on a gentle E and NE-facing slope c. 120m from a small NW-SE stream. A magnetic gradiometry survey (15R042) recorded a subcircular enclosure (WX015-003032-) just SE of St Mary’s abbey (WX015-003004-). Within the enclosure magnetic gradiometry and resistivity surveys identified a rectangular masonry structure (max. dims c. 12m NW-SE; c. 10m NE-SW) defined by masonry walls (Wth c. 1m) with a NE-SW diving wall, but no SW wall (Dowling 2015, 9). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 22 February 2019

• WX015-003034 Field system
  Description

  Located on either side of a NW-SE stream, on land that slopes down gently into its valley. A magnetic gradiometer survey (15R042) of about 4 ha (c. 10 acres) around St Mary’s Augustinian abbey (WX015-003004-) recorded some small enclosure (dims c. 30m x c. 20m) defined by single ditch features which might be animal pounds associated with the early monastery (WX015-003002-) of St Aidan (Dowling 2015, 9), while other linear ditch features probably represent a post-medieval field system of rectangular fields. A NW-SE roadway (Wth c. 7m; L 100m plus) defined by parallel ditches running outside the NE edge of the graveyard around the Cathedral (WX015-003003-) might be associated with these (ibid. 10). This field system can be extended to the area NE of the stream by ditch features recorded by a drone-mounted camera operated by Dinny Kinsella and Barry Lacey in July 2018, so this system covers a known area of about 8 ha (c. 20 acres), and more than one period of field formation is probably represented. A gradiometer survey (21R0297) by G. Dowling (2021, 18, Nos 3, 4) identified ditches relating to this field system also extending into the large triangular field (dims c. 365m NW-SE; c. 100m NE-SW at S) N of the N11. Included in this area is a subrectangular enclosure (dims c. 20m E-W; c. 12m E-W) defined by a single ditch that has a curved W edge and is open at E. This ditch produces strong magnetic responses indicating the presence of burnt or fired material in its fill. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 22 February 2019 Amended: 7 December 2021

• WX015-003035 Road - road/trackway
  Description

  Located on a gentle E and NE-facing slope on the SW side of a small NW-SE stream and its valley. A magnetic gradiometry survey (15R042) of about 4 ha (c. 10 acres) around St Mary’s Augustinian abbey (WX015-003004-) recorded elements of a post-medieval field system (WX015-003034-). A NW-SE roadway (Wth c. 7m; L 100m plus) defined by parallel ditches running outside the NE edge of the graveyard around the Cathedral (WX015-003003-) might be associated with these. (Dowling 2015, 10) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 22 February 2019

• WX015-003039 Water mill - horizontal-wheeled
  Description

  Situated at the bottom of a gentle NE-facing slope and c. 120m NE of the cathedral which is the probable site of St Maodhóg’s early church (WX015-003002-). Archaeological testing (E004633) during 2019 and 2020 by Kate Taylor in advance of the installation of a W-E waste water pipe from the R772 road (N11) to the NW-SE stream identified numerous archaeological features along the extent of the trench (L 120m). There were seven phases of activity, none closely dated as yet, but largely early medieval and medieval in date. Towards the E end of the trench a mill was recorded and is preserved in situ. This was on the E bank of a S-N watercourse that was recorded in a gradiometer survey (15R0042) conducted by The Discovery Programme (Dowling 2015). The stream (L c. 160m) originates just E of St Mary’s Abbey (WX015-003004-) and appears to be wider over most of its length than the fosses of the ecclesiastical enclosure and other man-made features recorded in the gradiometer survey. This is probably a natural stream and may have been deeply culverted where it meets the possible NW-SE road (WX015-003035-) as it isn’t visible here on the gradiometer survey. Features probably pre-dating the mill are a pit (diam. 1.71m; D 0.58m plus), two postholes, stakeholes, and a gully at the centre of the trench. Further W a layer of silt, a pit, and a gully are sealed beneath the up-cast of medieval ditches, but no artefacts were recovered at either location (Taylor and Hurley 2021, 14-7). Two pits and two ditches, both of which were re-cut, together with some gullies are probably early medieval in date because of the lack of pottery associated with them. One ditch (Wth 0.95m; D 0.32m) aligned NE-SW was cut by a second ditch (Wth 1.25m; D 0.23m) at its W edge, but E of these features was a larger N-S V-shaped ditch (Wth 2m; D 1.05m). This was also cut on its W edge by a smaller ditch (Wth 1.05m; D 0.48m), and several gullies were also related to this phase (ibid. 17-21). The fosse of the inner ecclesiastical enclosure (WX015-003021-) is also in the section (ibid. 21-1, 33-4). At the waterlogged E end of the water-pipe trench, and just E of the line of the stream, the remains of a wooden water mill were preserved. It consists of the wheel-pit inserted into a cut (dims 4.42m E-W; 2.16m plus N-S), and its tail-race. The wheel-pit itself (dims 2.1m E-W; 1.3m N-S) is formed by three large oak timbers and is too small to have accommodated a vertical wheel so, although no evidence of the wheel was present, it was probably laid horizontally. The S timber extends W, continuing under the E wall of the stone-walled mill that replaced the wooden one. The mill structures are preserved in situ and were not fully excavated. The tail race (Wth 3m; D 0.29-0.9m) starts at the wheel-pit and extends E towards a point where the surface stream steps E, and it was sampled, although it is largely outside the trench to the N. The original tail race is cut through clay and had two fills of silty or sandy clays. Three large pits (Wth 2.08; D 0.48m: Wth 2.72m; D 0.61m: Wth 0.72m plus; D 0.44m plus) were in the S section of the trench further E and are probably contemporary with the first mill (ibid. 24-7). The tail race was re-cut, and sherds of pottery, iron objects including a nail, fragments of two coins and of a conglomerate millstone as well as worked wood were recovered from it, although the tail race lies largely outside the trench to the N (ibid. 36-9). Just W of the timbers of the wooden wheel-pit is a clay floor (Wth 2.9m E-W; 1.5m plus N-S) bounded by what were clay-bonded stone walls to the W (Wth 0.4m; H 0.8m) where it forms the E edge of the upper fill of the stream and E (Wth 0.72m; H 0.35m). The floor has beam-slots inserted into it forming a rough ‘H’ pattern in plan like the surviving beams of the earlier mill, and two postholes are also set in this surface. Immediately W of the millhouse was the stream, visible in the section as a cut (Wth of top 3.7m; Wth of base 1.4m; max. D 1.9m) aligned NE-SW, with a stepped W side and a straighter E side where it is retained by the stone wall from the later millhouse. It retained water at the bottom and was filled with varying qualities of silt, from which some artefacts including sherds of pottery, leather shoes and a possible fragment of a millstone were recovered. (ibid. 35-6) See the attached: _1 plan of the mill from Taylor and Hurley 2021, Fig. 9 _1 S-facing section f the stream with the stone mill wall on right from Taylor and Hurely 2021, Fig. 49 Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 26 February 2021

• WX015-057 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Situated on a level landscape. The cropmark of circular enclosure (diam. c. 60m) defined by a single fosse or (Wth c. 4m) is visible on aerial photographs (MM (15) 29–31) and on images from a drone-mounted camera operated by Dinny Kinsella and Barry Lacey in 2018. An entrance is not visible. See the attached view looking W courtesy of Dinny Kinsella and Barry Lacey The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 2 May, 2012 Amended: 23 August, 2018

• WX015-058 Ring-ditch
  Description

  Situated on a slight SE-facing slope in the valley of the NE-SW River Bann with the stream c. 110m to the SE. The cropmark of a small enclosure (diam. c. 15m) is visible on aerial photographs (ASIAP, WX 100, 0-2). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Mooe Date of upload/revision: 2 May, 2012

• WX015-063 Ring-ditch
  Description

  Situated on a slight S-facing slope. The cropmark of a small enclosure (diam. c. 10m) defined by a fosse feature (Wth c. 3m) is visible on aerial photograph (MM (52) 16). It is also faintly visible on Google Earth (21/06/2010). See the attached enhanced view from Google Earth (2010) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 2 May, 2012 Amended: 23 July 2021

• WX015-083 Ring-ditch
  Description

  Situated on a gentle E-facing slope. The cropmark of a small circular enclosure (diam. c. 8m) defined by a single continuous ditch feature is visible only on Google Earth (14/07/2014). It was first reported by Barry Lacey and it was also noted by Simon Dowling. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 22 October, 2019 Amended: 3 March 2020

Architectural heritage

• Saint Edan's, farmyard complex, 1785–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Farmyard complex, extant 1840, on a quadrangular plan including (north): Attached nine-bay single-storey outbuilding with half-attic on a symmetrical plan centred on three-bay full-height pedimented breakfront. In alternative use, 1939-57. Renovated, ----. Hipped slate roof centred on pitched (gabled) slate roof with lichen-covered clay ridge tiles, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered red brick header bond eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Repointed rubble stone wall (breakfront) on cut-granite chamfered plinth with repointed flush quoins to corners supporting lichen-spotted monolithic pediment; replacement roughcast surface finish (remainder) with replacement cement rendered surface finish to courtyard (south) elevation. Round-headed central carriageway with repointed red brick voussoirs framing timber boarded double doors. Square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and repointed red brick block-and-start surrounds framing replacement casement windows retaining some one-over-one timber sash windows; (south): Attached seven-bay single-storey coach house-cum-stable outbuilding with half-attic on a symmetrical plan. In alternative use, 1939-57. Now disused. Hipped slate roof with lichen-covered clay ridge tiles, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered red brick header bond eaves. Lime rendered wall to courtyard (north) elevation; red brick Flemish bond surface finish to rear (south) elevation. Series of seven elliptical-headed carriageways with granite ashlar voussoirs centred on cut-granite keystones framing concrete block infill. Square-headed window openings (half-attic) with cut-granite sills, and concealed red brick block-and-start surrounds framing part concrete block infill. Set in unkempt grounds originally shared with Saint Edan's.

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).

Radon

About 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility moderately high, moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Ferns Demesne.

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Ferns Demesne with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Wexford.

Name

Ferns Demesne · Díméin Fhearna

Area

1,604,021 m² (160.4 ha, 396.36 acres)

Civil parish

Ferns, and its townlands

Barony

Scarawalsh

Electoral division

Ferns, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Ferns electoral division: 1,598 people in 608 households; 58% of households own their home; 40% of homes were built since 2001; 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 2% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballynakill, Bayland, Castleland, Coolpuck, Coolroe, Ferns, Ferns Lower, Ferns Upper, Kilbora, Milltown, Rosemaryhill

Placenames

Ferns Demesne on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.