Ardtole Church facts for kids
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Ardtole Church (in Ulster Scots: Ardtole Kirk) is an old church from the 1400s. It stands in ruins on a hill. From here, you can see the Irish Sea and even the Isle of Man! It's about 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) north-east of Ardglass town in County Down, Northern Ireland. This church used to be the main church for Ardglass. It is named after St Nicholas, who is known as the patron saint of sailors.
A Look at its Past
This church was built in the 1400s. It has been in ruins for a very long time. People described it as "only old walls" back in 1657.
What Remains Today?
The church and its graveyard are in a very noticeable spot. They sit at the north end of a ridge. The graveyard is a large, rectangular area. It measures about 52 meters (170 feet) from east to west. It is also 42 meters (138 feet) from north to south.
The east wall of the church still stands as tall as it was originally. However, the west wall is now just its foundations. A special stone with a cross carved into it was found here. This stone is from early Christian times. It is now part of the porch of the Catholic church in Chapeltown, which is nearby.
The site also has a stone-built souterrain. A souterrain is an underground passage or chamber. People in ancient times used them, often for storage or as a hiding place.
