Ferns Upper

140 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ferns Upper, from 0 m² to 68,869 m² (6.89 ha, 17.02 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 48 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 Upper 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.

• 18 Dec 2025Granted (conditional)

  Permission for retention of alteration to the layout from that previously

  Retention · Wexford County Council, 20251690

• 30 Nov 2025Granted (conditional)

  Permission for the erection of three no. 2 storey (two bedroomed)

  Permission, 3 homes · Wexford County Council, 20251567

• 31 Oct 2025Granted (conditional)

  Permission for an extension to an existing dwelling, comprising of a single

  Permission · Wexford County Council, 20251401

• 6 Oct 2025Granted (conditional)

  Permission for retention of existing shed

  Retention · Wexford County Council, 20251263

• 26 Jun 2025Granted (conditional)

  Permission for the replacement of existing partially demolished house (Foley's C

  Permission, 1 home · Wexford County Council, 20250793

• 20 Jan 2025Granted (conditional)

  Permission to construct a single storey rear extension and a rear roof

  Permission · Wexford County Council, 20250047

• 17 Sept 2024Granted (conditional)

  Permission to change the design of dwelling house previously granted

  Permission · Wexford County Council, 20241126

• 5 Sept 2024Refused

  Permission for retention of and permission for completion of existing domestic

  Retention · Wexford County Council, 20241082

• 23 Aug 2024N/a

  Permission for retention and completion of existing domestic garage

  Retention · Wexford County Council, 20241008

• 13 May 2024Granted (conditional)

  Permission to erect a fully serviced dwelling house and domestic garage

  Permission · Wexford County Council, 20240533

• 7 May 2024N/a

  Permission for retention of a facility for minibus parking

  Retention · Wexford County Council, 20240509

• 25 Jan 2024Granted (conditional)

  Permission for retention of a steel framed building being used for cleaning

  Retention · Wexford County Council, 20240058

• 14 Nov 2023Granted (conditional)

  Permission for the construction of a two storey extension

  Permission · Wexford County Council, 20231366

• 6 Sept 2023Granted (conditional)

  Permission for the construction of new all weather pitch and all ancillary site

  Permission · Wexford County Council, 20231064

• 17 Jul 2023Granted (conditional)

  Permission for the change of use from health and wellness centre at ground floor

  Permission, 2 homes · Wexford County Council, 20230821

• 20 Apr 2023Granted (conditional)

  Permission for retention for (a) the demolition of an existing house

  Retention, 2 homes · Wexford County Council, 20230418

• 16 Dec 2022Refused

  PERMISSION FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING PARTIALLY DEMOLISHED HOUSE WITH A NEW

  Extension of duration, 1 home · Wexford County Council, 20170824

• 9 Dec 2022N/a

  Permission for the change of use from health and wellness centre at ground floor

  Permission, 2 homes · Wexford County Council, 20221641

• 27 Sept 2022Refused

  Permission to change the design of dwelling house previously granted under

  Permission, 1 home · Wexford County Council, 20221278

• 26 Aug 2022Granted (conditional)

  Permission to erect a dwelling house with services & domestic garage

  Permission, 2 homes · Wexford County Council, 20221139

• 1 Jul 2022Refused

  Retention permission for (a) the demolition of an existing dwelling house (b)

  Retention · Wexford County Council, 20220881

• 22 Jun 2022Granted (conditional)

  Permission for the demolition of existing porch and utility the proposed

  Permission · Wexford County Council, 20220831

• 7 Jun 2022Granted (conditional)

  Permission to erect a dwelling house with services & domestic garage

  Permission, 2 homes · Wexford County Council, 20220764

• 22 Apr 2022N/a

  Retention planning permission for (a) the demolition of an existing dwelling

  Retention · Wexford County Council, 20220529

• 12 Apr 2022Refused

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

  Retention, 1 home · Wexford County Council, 20220474

The 25 most recent of 68 applications.

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 the townland of Ferns Upper.

Recorded monuments

• WX015-003 Historic town
  Description

  St. Aedan or Moedoc (Mogue) probably founded a monastery at Ferns before his death in 624 on land granted to him by Brandubh, whom he had aided in battle (Shearman 1874-5, 525-9). The name - Fearna - means the place of the alder trees, and the importance of the monastery is illustrated by the fact that it was raided by the Vikings on a number of occasions, beginning in 835 AD. It was selected as one of the five diocesan centres in Leinster at the synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 AD, and it has continued in this role down to the present. Its ecclesiastical importance was enhanced by the founding of an Augustinian abbey by Diarmuid Mc Morrough in 1160. In the 12th century Ferns was also becoming the political centre of the Uí Cinsealaigh, who were almost the perpetual kings of Leinster since the time of Diarmait macMael na mBó (died 1072). In 1166 the Uí Chinnselaig had a castle at Ferns, which was probably an earthen ring-work on the site of the later castle. The Marshalls, who became the heirs to Strongbow's Leinster through the marriage of William Marshall the elder with Strongbow's daughter, Isabella, built the castle before 1232, in part to identify themselves with the old regime of MacMurchada. The building of the Cathedral in the 13th century, probably by John St. John, the first Anglo-Norman bishop, made Ferns the centre of a large diocese and the caput of a large episcopal manor. Between the cathedral and the castle Ferns could have had about 200 burgers and been a substantial settlement, although it never had the status of a town and was not walled. It would probably have been situated between the castle on the local high ground and the church on lower ground c. 400m to the E. Despite such an auspicious beginning the settlement declined rapidly in the 14th century through encroachment by the Kavanaghs. The castle was captured by the Irish during the Bruce wars (1315-17) and again in 1331 and in 1357-8. From 1360 the Kavanaghs occupied the castle on a continuous basis and records almost cease until they surrendered it to royal authority in 1543. In 1575 Fiach Mac Hugh O'Byrne burned the cathedral, although he rebuilt it, perhaps in its present form, in 1577. In 1583 the castle and manor were granted to Sir Thomas Masterson, but he was unable to revive the settlement which was described as an ancient ruined town in 1598. (Hore 1900-11, vol. 6; Bradley and King 1990, 47-50) The monuments include the castle (WX015-003001-) on the site a possible ringwork castle (WX015-003007-), the site of St Máedóg's monastery (WX015-003002-) represented by the high crosses, the Augustinian monastery (WX015-003004-), the Cathedral (WX015-003003-), St Peter's church (WX015-003005-) and St. Máedóg's Well (WX015-003006-). A number of excavations within the village have produced evidence of medieval and earlier occupation, including evidence of the ecclesiastical enclosure (WX015-003031-) that surrounded St. Máedóg’s monastery. (Harbison 1975, 246-8) 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 Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012 Amended: 18 November 2020

• WX015-003002 Church
  Description

  Located on a gentle E and NE-facing slope c. 150m from a small NW-SE stream. St. Aedan or Máedóg (Culleton 1999, 102-07, 135-6) or Maodhóg (Ó Rian 2011, 432-6), also known as Aidan, is the founder of a monastery at Ferns before his death in 624 on land granted by Brandubh, whom he had aided in battle (Shearman 1874-5, 525-9). The name ‘Fearna’ means the place of the alder trees, and the importance of the monastery is illustrated by the fact that it was raided by the Vikings on a number of occasions, beginning in 835 AD. Ferns was selected as one of the five diocesan centres (WX015-003003-) in Leinster at the synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 AD, and it continues in this role to the present. The only evidence of the early monastery is in the four high crosses in the large graveyard. The crosses are fairly plain, but S of the cathedral the base (dims 1.4m x 1.15m) of a cross is supporting the bottom of a granite shaft (dims 0.57m x 0.34m; H 0.95m) decorated in fret-patterns. The heads of two other granite crosses were incorporated in the NW graveyard wall and another was in the graveyard (Anon. 1909-10). These are now re-erected W, NW and N of the Cathedral, although the bases might always have been in their present positions. They consist of the bases and heads of plain ringed crosses with mouldings on the edges. The head of the W cross (Wth 1.25m; H 1.2m; T0.32m) has no mounding on the E face. The NW cross (Wth 1.21m; H 1.1m; T 0.35m) is beside the graveyard wall, and the N cross (Wth 1.53m; H 1.4m; T 0.23m) is narrower than the others. A fifth granite cross, which might be a small high cross (H 1.1m; Wth 0.44m; T 0.3m) with an unpierced ringed head, and a granite cross-slab (dims. 1.1m x 0.44m; T 0.33m), are in the chapter house at the E end of the cathedral. (Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 89) An ecclesiastical enclosure (int. diam. c. 200m) suggested by the curved line of the N11 Gorey road on the NW edge of the graveyard and the road to the Harrow on its SW perimeter could have surrounded the early monastery. A magnetic gradiometry survey (15R042) recorded two parallel ditch features c. 45-60m apart E and S of the graveyard and centred on it (Dowling 2015, 8-9). The inner ditch (Wth c. 2m) is overlain by the remains of St Mary’s Augustinian abbey (WX015-003004-) while the outer feature (Wth c. 2-4m) is entangled with, and probably pre-dating an enclosure (int. diam. c. 65m NW-SE; c. 50m NE-SW) defined by interrupted sections of a fosse (Wth c. 3-4m) just SE of the abbey. This enclosure could have an entrance at SW leading to the open SW end of a double-aisled masonry structure (max. dims c. 12m NW-SE; c. 10m NE-SW) with a NE-SW diving wall (ibid. 9). Also recorded were ditch features of at least two isolated enclosures (dims c. 30m x c. 20m) that may have been animal pounds associated with the monastery, 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 might be associated with these (ibid. 9-10). This field system is 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 the field system covers a known area of about 8 ha (c. 20 acres), and more than one period of field formation is probably represented. 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 Moore Date of revision: 22 February, 2019

• WX015-003003 Cathedral
  Description

  Situated towards the bottom of an E-facing slope. Ferns was established as a diocese at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 AD, and it continues in this role down to the present. The cathedral church of Ferns was built on the site of St Mogue's church (WX015-003002-) in the 13th century, probably by John St. John, the first Anglo-Norman bishop of the diocese (1223-1253). Burnt by Fiach Mac Hugh O'Byrne in 1575, it was restored by him in 1577, possibly in its present form. The diocesan centre may have been moved to St. Mary's, New Ross for a period after this. The church was re-vamped in 1817 when the present tower and the chapter house to the W were built (McFall 1954, 10). Within the present cathedral is the effigy of a bishop, who might be John St. John (Hunt 1974, vol. 1, 237–8), or Adam de Northampton who died in 1346 (Hore 1910, 300). The surviving architecture is difficult to interpret, but the original cathedral may have been of a great size. Hore (1900-11, vol. 6, 165-6) thought the present church was built on the W end of the centre aisle of the nave, and that the structure E of the present church was the original chancel (total L c. 60m). O'Byrne rebuilt the original E windows in the foreshortened cathedral. Clapham (1952, 36-9), followed by Leask (1955, vol. 2, 99-101) and McFall (1954, 10-13), thinks the present church is built on the chancel of the cathedral. In this view the medieval church was cruciform in plan with an aisled nave and an aisled chancel. Only sections of four piers from the chancel, a double piscina and parts of the E wall of the chancel survive with a double barrel-vault undercroft beneath the chancel. The central E window, which is five small lancets increasing in height towards the centre is not original, although the two flanking lancets and oval lights above them are illustrated in an Austin Cooper drawing of 1786 (ibid. 13). This drawing shows the old tower occupying the W end of the present church with the ruins of a S transept extending into the graveyard. In this case the original nave might extend W for an unknown length under the roadway. Only the central and E parts of the present cathedral with the attached columns from the aisles of the chancel displayed internally is original. The base of what was a crossing tower is incorporated into its W end, the chamfered angles of which are visible externally. The chancel of the present cathedral with the double barrel-vaulted crypt underneath is largely original, apart from the five central lancet windows. The structure E of the present chancel (int. dims. 12m plus E-W; 7.05m N-S) is aligned on the present church and was probably the original chapter house. It has evidence of seven lancet windows in the N wall and 6 in the S wall, but its floor level would be over 1m lower than that of the Cathedral. (Hore 1910–11, vol. 6, 168–9; McFall 1954; Harbison 1975, 247; Bradley and King 1990, 53-7) 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 Moore Date of upload/revision: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003005 Church
  Description

  St Peter's church might be the parish church of Ferns and it is at the N edge of a small D-shaped graveyard (dims. c. 30m E-W; c. 25m N-S) defined by masonry walls. It is situated on a slight bluff overlooking a NW-SE stream c. 100m to the SW with the Cathedral (WX015-003002-) c. 250m to the SW. This is a nave (int. dims. 10.8m E-W; 7.15m N-S) and chancel (int. dims. 6.1m E-W; 5.6m N-S) church that is complete except for the W wall and portions of other walls of the nave. Investigations at the time of its conservation uncovered the original W wall showing that the nave was longer (int. dim. c. 14.6m) (Anon. 1910-1, 5-6). The church has a plain rounded chancel arch (Wth 5m) and two lancet windows at the E end of the chancel. There are small niches in the N, E and S chancel walls. A lancet window in the S wall of chancel has a round-headed embrasure in a green stone decorated with chevrons, probably taken from Clone church (WX015-023001-) c. 2.7km to the SSW. (Harbison 1975, 247) 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. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003006 Ritual site - holy well
  Description

  Located at the bottom of a NE-facing slope and c. 30m from the W bank of a NW-SE stream. It is described as St Mogue's Well on the 1840 and 1924 eds of the OS 6-inch map, and is now located under the Ferns to Gorey road (N11). It was enclosed in 1847 when a stone head from Clone church (WX015-023001-) was incorporated into the masonry superstructure (O'Broin 1983-4, 33-4). It is now inaccessible, but steps lead down from the road to a lintelled passage (L 1.05m; Wth 0.62m; H 1.2m) that leads to a higher barrel-vaulted passage (L 1.65m; Wth 1.05m) with the well, a circular, stone-lined pool (diam. c. 0.65m) at the end. A channel from the well now leads to an open well c. 25m to the NE. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003008 Graveyard
  Description

  St. Aedan or Moedoc (Mogue), is probably the founder of a monastery at Ferns before his death in 624 on land granted by Brandubh, whom he had aided in battle (Shearman 1874-5, 525-9). The only evidence of the early monastery is in the four high crosses in the large, wedge-shaped graveyard (dims c. 110m N-S; c. 60-100m E-W) defined by masonry walls, and the curved boundaries in its vicinity. A fragment of a graveslab was identified in the graveyard in 2013. An ecclesiastical enclosure could have had a diam. of c. 200m with the curved line of the N11 Gorey road on its NW edge and the road to the Harrow on its SW edge. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 18 June, 2013

• WX015-003009 Cross - High cross
  Description

  The heads of two granite crosses were incorporated in the NW graveyard wall and another was in the graveyard (Anon. 1909-10). They are now re-erected W, NW and N of the Cathedral, although the bases might always have been in their present positions. They consist of the bases and heads of plain ringed crosses with mouldings on the edges. The head of the W cross (Wth 1.25m; H 1.2m; T 0.32m) has no mouding on the E face and is situated W of the Cathedral chapter-house. (Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 89) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003010 Cross - High cross
  Description

  The heads of two granite crosses were incorporated in the NW graveyard wall and another was in the graveyard (Anon. 1909-10). They are now re-erected W, NW and N of the Cathedral, although the bases might always have been in their present positions. They consist of the bases and heads of plain ringed crosses with mouldings on the edges. The head of the NW cross (Wth 1.21m; H 1.1m; T 0.35m) is inside the graveyard wall N of the Cathedral chapter house. (Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 89) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003011 Cross - High cross
  Description

  The heads of two granite crosses were incorporated in the NW graveyard wall and another was in the graveyard (Anon. 1909-10). They are now re-erected W, NW and N of the Cathedral, although the bases might always have been in their present positions. They consist of the bases and heads of plain ringed crosses with mouldings on the edges. The head of the N cross (Wth 1.53m; H 1.4m; T 0.23m) is narrower than the others. (Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 89) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003012 Cross - High cross
  Description

  A granite cross, which might be a small high cross (H 1.1m; Wth 0.44m; T 0.3m) with an unpierced ringed head and a small mortice on top, is in the chapter house at the E end of the cathedral (WX015-003003-) at Ferns. (Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 89) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003013 Cross - High cross
  Description

  In the graveyard (WX015-003008-) and S of the cathedral (WX015-003003-) is the base (dims. 1.4m x 1.15m) of a cross supporting the bottom of a shaft (dims. 0.57m x 0.34m; H 0.95m) decorated in fret-pattern. (Anon. 1909-10, 6-7; Harbison 1992, vol. 1, 89) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003014 Cross-slab
  Description

  A granite slab (dims. 1.1m x 0.44m; T 0.33m), now set up in the chapter house at the E end of the cathedral (WX015-003003-) has a moulding around the edge and a raised ringed cross in the centre. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003015 Tomb - effigial
  Description

  Within the present St Edan's cathedral (WX015-003003-) is the effigy of a bishop (Hunt 1974, vol. 1, 237–8), who might be Bishop John St. John (1224-1253) (McFall 1954, 7-9) or Adam de Northampton who died in 1346 (Ffrench 1904-06; Hore 1910, 300). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003019 Graveyard
  Description

  St Peter's church (WX015-003005-) might be the parish church of Ferns and it is at the N edge of a small D-shaped graveyard (dims. c. 30m E-W; c. 25m N-S) defined by masonry walls. It is situated on a slight bluff overlooking a NW-SE stream c. 100m to the SW with the Cathedral (WX015-003002-) c. 250m to the SW. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 August, 2012

• WX015-003020 Stone head (present location)
  Description

  According to a plaque at St. Mogue's Well (WX015-003006-) stone from Clone Church (WX015-023001-) c. 2.7km to the S and Ferns Cathedral (WX015-003003-) was used in constructiing the superstructure of the well in 1847. The material from Clone is thought to include the stone head facing the road (Ó Broin 1983-4, 33-4), Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003021 Excavation - miscellaneous
  Description

  Situated on an E-facing slope c. 80m N of St. Evan's cathedral (WX015-003003-). Archaeological testing (01E1208) produced evidence of an area of charcoal that was in the interface of the topsoil and subsoil but did not appear to have produced suboil redenning. (Hurley 2003) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 April, 2012

• WX015-003024 Flat cemetery
  Description

  Situated on a SE-facing slope c. 70m NW of St. Evan's cathedral (WX015-003003-). Archaeological testing (03E0254) identified areas of activity over extensive parts of a development site (Sheehan 2006). Further work (04E0535) in Area B excavated a flat cemetery consisting of at least 6 cremation pits, two of which had fragments of undecorated pottery. The cremation pits were intermingled with other pits, some of which had post-medieval debris. Numerous post-holes were also dispersed amongst the pits but no structure could be identified. A hut-site (WX015-003025-) was identified c. 15m to the W in Area C. (Kavanagh 2007) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003025 Hut site
  Description

  Situated on a SE-facing slope c. 80m NW of St. Evan's cathedral (WX015-003003-). Archaeological testing (03E0254) identified areas of activity over extensive parts of a development site (Sheehan 2006). Further work (04E0535) in Area C excavated a part of a hut site represented by a semi-circle of post-holes (diam. c. 7.5m) associated with traces of a slot-trench and burnt daub. A number of pits in the vicinity produced sherds of medieval pottery, but these need not be contemporary with the structure. A flat cemetery (WX015-003024-) was identified c. 15m to the E in Area B. (Kavanagh 2007) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003027 Architectural feature
  Description

  The decorated stonework of the embrasure of the pointed window in the S wall of the chancel of St. Peter's church (WX015-003005-) is from another structure, thought to be the church of Clone (WX015-0023001-), c. 2.7km to the SSW. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 April, 2012

• WX015-003030 Cross-slab
  Description

  A fragment of a decorated stone (dims 0.97m x 0.17-0.43m; T 0.12m) tapering from top to bottom was identified in the graveyard (WX015-003008-) of the Cathedral in 2013. It has an incised stem terminating in an incised circle that encloses a marigold in false relief. It's origin may have been as a cross-slab in the 1st millennium (Corlett 2011). It was re-used as a grave-marker when a lightly-incised cross opposite the stem was added, probably in the 18th or 19th century. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 18 June, 2013

• WX015-003031 Ecclesiastical enclosure
  Description

  Located on a gentle E and NE-facing slope down to a small NW-SE stream. The monastery of St. Aedan or Maodhóg (WX015-003002-), centered on the graveyard S of the medieval Cathedral of St Aedan (WX003-015003-), is within an ecclesiastical enclosure that was identified through a magnetic gradiometer survey (15R0042) at its SE edge. It was recorded as two parallel ditch features c. 45-60m apart E and S of the graveyard and centered on it (Dowling 2015, 8-9). The inner ditch (Wth c. 2m) is overlain by the remains of St Mary’s Augustinian abbey (WX015-003004-) while the outer feature (Wth c. 2-4m) is entangled with, and probably pre-dating an enclosure (WX015-003032-) just SE of the abbey. The outer ditch is also likely to be the V-shaped ditch (Wth of top 2.6m; max. D 1.7m), with lenses of charcoal and slag in the fill, encountered in monitoring (98E0132) a sewer pipe under the road outside the S edge of the graveyard. A sample of alder charcoal from this ditch produced a date of cal. AD 384-535 (1 sigma) (Ryan 1999, 8; excavations.ie 1999, 875). Traces of the outer enclosure ditch were also encountered (Wth 2.5m; D 1.2m) at its W edge just E of the Castle where it had thirteenth and fourteenth century ceramics in its upper layers (Sweetman 1979, 224). At its N extent as it approaches a NW-SE stream a V-shaped ditch (Wth of top 4-5m; D 2m) was excavated (06E0780), but no dating material was recovered (Kavanagh 2006). The most substantial evidence of the outer ditch was recorded by Catherine McLoughlin who excavated (18E0526) 115m of it at SW (2020, 2020a). It was a fairly uniform feature, being flat-bottomed (Wth of top c. 3m; Wth of base 1.1m; c. D 1.5m) with silts at the base together with charcoal, two samples of which produced C14 dates of cal. AD 659-851 and cal. AD 727-940. There was no evidence of an accompanying bank. Following a period of silting these ditches were backfilled in a single event, although the fosse was still partly open in the late twelfth century when the Anglo-Normans arrived at Ferns. (McLoughlin 2020a, 2020b) The ditch of the inner ecclesiastical enclosure was encountered by Kate Taylor in excavation (E004633) on the line of a W-E water pipe (L c. 120m) from the R772 (N11) road to the stream and c. 90m NE of the cathedral. The ditch at this point is a complex feature that was re-cut at least twice. The base of the original ditch is V-shaped (Wth of top 1.41m; D 0.92m) with up-cast on the E side, perhaps forming an outer bank. The ditch was recut (Wth of top 2.75m; D 0.27) as rather flat-bottomed (Wth 1.75m), over-cutting by 0.2m the W edge of the earlier ditch, and redeposited material was added to the E and W (Taylor and Hurley 2021, 21-2). Very little survives of this re-cut as it was superseded by a larger ditch (Wth 4.5m; D 0.61m) with fourteen fills of silty clays. Numerous artefacts were recovered from this including iron slag and knife blades as well as pottery, some of which suggested that the ditch remained visible as a shallow hollow for a long time (ibid. 33-4). The inner enclosure ditch might also have been encountered in excavation (E004633) by Kate Taylor during 2019 at two points on the curving Station Road just SW of the graveyard where a ditch (Wth of top 1.45m plus; D 0.9m plus) could be interpreted as the perimeter of the inner enclosure (Taylor and Hurley 2021, 48-9). This line of the inner enclosure is continued by two ditches (L 60m plus) placed c. 15m apart NW-N of the church and cathedral in the large triangular field (dims c. 365m NW-SE; c. 100m NE-SW at S) N of the N11. The ditches were first encountered in archaeological testing (06E0780) by J. Kavanagh when they were interpreted as possibly relating to a rath (WX015-003029-), but the ditches were also recorded in a gradiometer survey (21R0297) by G. Dowling (2021, 17-18) and are even visible as features on OSI images (2005) and Digital Globe (2012-13). Ditches relating to the field system (WX015-003034-) also extend into this area and were also recorded by Dowling (2021, 18). This intimates that the inner enclosure is a large oval area (dims c. 340m N-S; c. 175m E-W), and almost its entire course can be traced. The results of the gradiometer survey, together with the McLoughlin excavation and the tantalizing traces of the outer enclosure encountered elsewhere, indicate that it is very large (max. ext. dims c. 590m E-W; c. 430m N-S), with the early church displaced SE of its centre. At the McLoughlin excavation the Anglo-Norman horizon is marked by well-pits, gullies, the boundaries of burgage plots, and two post-built structures, as well as extensive evidence of metal-working. Seven well-pits or water-holes (diam. c. 2m; D 1.6-1.8m) were dug along the line of the ecclesiastical fosse to collect water and their fills contained pottery dating from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 22 February 2019 Amended: 18 November 2020; 26 February 2021; 7 December 2021

Architectural heritage

• Saint Edan's Cathedral (Ferns), cathedral, 1815–1820 · National interest
  Description

  Detached three- or four-bay double-height Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland cathedral, built 1816-7; dated 1817, on a rectangular plan with single-bay three-stage tower to entrance (west) front on a square plan abutting two-bay single-storey single-cell chapter house. "Restored", 1901-2. Pitched slate roofs with clay ridge tiles, moss-covered cut-granite coping to gables, and cast-iron rainwater goods on slate flagged eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Part repointed coursed rubble stone battered walls with rough hewn rubble stone flush quoins to corners; part repointed coursed rubble stone surface finish to tower with "arrow loop"-detailed piers to corners (bell stage) supporting cut-granite octagonal pinnacles centred on "arrow loop"-detailed crow stepped battlements having cut-granite coping. Pointed-arch window openings with cut-granite sills, timber Y-mullions, and part repointed block-and-start surrounds framing one-over-one timber sash windows without horns having lattice glazing bars (west) or storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels (east). Paired lancet window openings (east) with cut-granite sills, and part repointed block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Lancet window openings centred on lancet "East Window" with part repointed block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having square glazing bars centred on leaded stained glass panels. Pointed-arch openings to tower (bell stage) with cut-granite sills, and part repointed surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings over framing applied timber Y-mullions on louvered timber fittings. Pointed-arch window openings (chapter house) with cut-granite sills, timber Y-mullions, and part repointed surrounds framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Pointed-arch window openings (west) with cut-granite sills, and cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings over framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Interior including vestibule retaining staircase on a dog leg plan with turned timber "spindle" balusters supporting carved timber banister terminating in turned timber newels; square-headed door opening into nave with timber panelled double doors; full-height interior open into roof "restored", 1901-2, with balustraded choir gallery (west) on stop fluted Doric columns supporting Gothic-style timber panelled pipe organ, carpeted glazed terracotta tiled central aisle between reclaimed Maltese Cross-detailed timber pews, cut-white marble Classical-style wall monuments (ob. 1789; 1859) centred on stained glass memorial windows (1902; 1931), exposed strutted King Post timber roof construction with diagonal timber boarded or tongue-and-groove timber panelled polygonal vaulted ceiling in carved timber frame on carved timber cornice, Gothic-style timber panelled pulpit (1907) on an octagonal plan with Gothic-style timber clerk's desk, and pointed-arch chancel arch framing encaustic tiled stepped dais to chancel (east) with wrought iron-detailed barley-twist balusters supporting carved timber communion railing centred on Gothic-style reredos (1918) below stained glass memorial "East Window" (1903); chapter house (west) with timber panelled wainscoting supporting carved timber dado railing, and picture railing below moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling. Set in landscaped grounds on a corner site with tuck pointed granite ashlar piers to perimeter having cut-granite shallow pyramidal capping supporting wrought iron double gates.

• Saint Mogue's Cottage, sexton's house, 1700–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay single- and two-storey split-level thatched house, extant 1840, on a rectangular plan originally three-bay single-storey with single-bay two-storey flush (east) or single-bay single-storey recessed (west) end bays. Renovated, 1938, to accommodate continued private residential use. "Restored", 2000, to accommodate alternative use. Part chicken wire-covered replacement hipped water reed thatch roofs with exposed hazel lattice stretchers to decorative raised oat straw ridge having exposed scallops, repointed red brick Running bond chimney stacks having chevron- or saw tooth-detailed stepped capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta octagonal or tapered pots, and blind stretchers to eaves having blind scallops. Replacement gritdashed lime rendered battered walls; repointed rubble stone battered walls (end bays). Square-headed central door opening approached by flight of five lichen-covered cut-granite steps with concealed dressings framing timber boarded or tongue-and-groove timber panelled door. Square-headed flanking window openings with concealed dressings framing timber casement windows having lattice glazing bars. Square-headed window openings (end bays) with terracotta tiled sills, and repointed red brick block-and-start surrounds framing timber casement windows. Set in landscaped grounds with boundary wall to perimeter having moss-covered rounded coping.

• Rectory/glebe/vicarage/curate's house, 1730–1740 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey double-pile over part raised basement Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland glebe house, built 1735, on a T-shaped plan with single-bay (single-bay deep) full-height central return (north). Refronted, 1812, producing present composition. Occupied, 1901; 1911. Sold, 1969. Resold, 1996. "Restored", 1997. Pitched double-pile (M-profile) slate roof on a T-shaped plan centred on pitched slate roof (north), roll moulded clay ridge tiles, lichen-spotted cut-granite coping to gables on cut-granite kneelers with red brick Running bond (west) or rendered red brick Running bond (east) chimney stacks to apexes having corbelled stepped capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta tapered pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-granite eaves retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Part creeper- or ivy-covered coursed rubble stone wall to front (south) elevation on lichen-spotted cut-granite chamfered cushion course on coursed rubble stone base with cut-granite flush quoins to corners; lime rendered surface finish (remainder). Square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and red brick block-and-start surrounds framing six-over-six timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings to rear (north) elevation centred on round-headed window openings, cut-granite sills, and concealed red brick block-and-start surrounds framing six-over-six timber sash windows without horns centred on three-over-three (basement), six-over-six (half-landing) or three-over-three (top floor) timber sash windows having fanlights. Repositioned segmental-headed door opening (east) approached by flight of four lichen-spotted cut-limestone steps, cut-granite lugged surround with archivolt framing timber panelled door having overlight. Square-headed flanking window openings with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings framing four-over-four timber sash windows. Set in landscaped grounds with piers to perimeter having lichen-covered cut-granite shallow pyramidal capping supporting wrought iron double gates.

• Saint Mogue's Well, building misc, 1845–1850 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding single-bay single-stage over basement turret, dated 1847, on a square plan. Lichen-covered pyramidal roof with Cross finial to apex. Part repointed coursed or snecked rubble stone walls on cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with lichen-spotted flush quoins to chamfered corners. Road fronted with footpath to front.

• Graveyard/cemetery, 1850–1897 · Regional interest
  Description

  Graveyard with collection of cut-limestone markers, ob. 1850-97. Set in relandscaped grounds.

• Ferns Garda Síochána Station, post office, 1900–1905 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey post office, dated 1904; occupied 1911, on a square plan with single-bay two-storey recessed end bay; three-bay two-storey side elevations. Now in alternative use. Hipped slate roof on a U-shaped plan behind parapet with clay ridge tiles, and concealed rainwater goods with cast-iron rainwater goods to side elevations retaining cast-iron square profile downpipes. Red brick Flemish bond walls on moulded cushion course on plinth with iron-covered red brick header bond cornice on "bas-relief" frieze below mass concrete parapet having concrete coping. Square-headed central door opening with red brick voussoirs framing replacement timber boarded or tongue-and-groove timber panelled door having overpanel. Square-headed flanking window openings with cut-granite chamfered flush sills, and red brick voussoirs framing two-over-two timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings (first floor) with cut-granite sill course, and red brick voussoirs framing two-over-two timber sash windows. Square-headed door opening in round-headed recess (west) with red brick voussoirs having stepped reveals framing replacement glazed timber panelled door having inscribed overpanel ("E.R. [Edwardus Rex]/1904"). Road fronted with concrete footpath to front.

• Bank of Ireland, bank/financial institution, 1925–1950 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey double-pile bank, extant 1950, on a square plan. Refenestrated, ----. Closed, ----. Hipped double-pile (M-profile) slate roof behind parapet (west), clay ridge tiles with "swan neck" finials to apexes, red brick Flemish bond chimney stacks on red brick Flemish bond bases having corbelled stepped capping supporting terracotta pots, and concealed rainwater goods retaining cast-iron hoppers and square profile downpipes with cast-iron rainwater goods (east) on rendered eaves retaining cast-iron hoppers and square profile downpipes. Roughcast wall to front (west) elevation on rendered chamfered plinth with rusticated rendered piers to corners supporting dentilated cornice on blind frieze below parapet; roughcast surface finish (remainder) on rendered chamfered plinth with rusticated rendered piers to corners supporting rendered band to eaves. Square-headed window openings (ground floor) with cut-granite sills on "Guttae"-detailed aprons, and roundel-detailed rendered "bas-relief" surrounds framing replacement aluminium casement windows replacing timber casement windows. Square-headed window openings (first floor) with cut-granite sill course on panelled risers, and roundel-detailed rendered "bas-relief" surrounds framing replacement aluminium casement windows replacing timber casement windows. Interior including (ground floor): banking hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled reveals; and (first floor): carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled reveals. Road fronted on a corner site with iron railings to perimeter.

• Post box, 1881–1901 · Regional interest
  Description

  Wall-mounted cast-iron "wall box" post box, between 1881-1901; extant 1904, with "VR [Victoria Regina]" royal cipher. Set in concrete block boundary wall.

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 Upper.

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 Upper with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Wexford.

Name

Ferns Upper · Fearna Uachtarach

Area

696,424 m² (69.64 ha, 172.09 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

Castleland, Coolbaun, Craan, Ferns Demesne, Ferns Lower, Newtown, Rosemaryhill, Tombrackwood

Placenames

Ferns Upper 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.