Ardtole Church facts for kids
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Ardtole Church is an old, ruined church from the 1400s. It stands on a hilltop in County Down, Northern Ireland. From here, you can see the Irish Sea and even the Isle of Man. The church is about 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) northeast of Ardglass town.
This church used to be the main church for the Ardglass area. It is named after St Nicholas, who is known as the patron saint of sailors.
History of Ardtole Church
This spot might have been a special place even before Christianity arrived. The church you see today was built in the 1400s. It has been in ruins for a very long time. Records from 1657 already described it as "only old walls."
The church and its graveyard are in a very noticeable spot on top of a hill. The graveyard is a large, rectangular area. It measures about 52 meters (170 feet) from east to west and 42 meters (138 feet) from north to south.
The eastern wall of the church still stands tall. However, the western wall is mostly gone, with only its foundations left. A special stone slab from early Christian times was found here. It is now part of the porch of the Catholic church in Chapeltown nearby.
The site also has a stone-built souterrain. A souterrain is an underground passage or chamber.
Architecture of the Church
Ardtole Church is a medieval church without a roof. It is located northeast of Ardglass in County Down. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency says the church is about 19 meters (62 feet) long and 7 meters (23 feet) wide.
It was built using local stones, and its walls are very thick. You can still see parts of its old windows. These include tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. There is also a pointed-arch window on the eastern side. These features show it was built in the late medieval Gothic style.
See also
- Ardglass
- Saint Nicholas
