Thursday Doors – Old and New

Welcome to a new year of Thursday Doors, although I’m using some photos from the old year. I’m sorry I’ve been missing this past couple of months, the end of 2021 was a very busy time for me. I’ve decided to cut back a lot on all forms of social media in an effort to spend more time writing (my latest book is taking me forever). For 2022 I’ll be blogging just once a month and mostly Thursday Doors. So for January let’s kick off with some more old ruins from Trim, county Meath. These are all part of a group known as The Newtown Monuments.

The largest of these ruins is Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, dating back to 1206.

Buried under the high alter of the cathedral are the remains of the founder Simon de Rochford (died 1224) and one of his successors, Bishop William Sherwood, who died in 1428.

This priory was founded in the early 13th century for the Crossed Friars of the Order of John the Baptist.

The first mention of the priory is in 1281 when there was a grant of alms from the manor of Magathtreth.

In 1513 Edmund Dillon was prior of the monastery. He was the brother of Thomas Dillon, prior of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral around the same time.

Eventually, the priory and its possession were granted to Robert Dillon who later disposed of it to the Ashe family and they made their home in the main keep.

After being abandoned by the Ashe family the keep was inhabited by Bishop Brown the Roman Catholic Bishop of Meath. After the Battle of the Boyne the building was granted to one of King William’s men but he didn’t stay there too long. On his first night he saw a “most horrid vision” and as soon as it was dawn he mounted his horse and rode away, never to return.

In the ruins of the church stands the tomb of Sir Lucas Dillon and his wife Lady Jane Bathe. He is depicted wearing Renaissance armour while she wears an Elizabethan gown. This tomb is known locally as the Tomb of the Jealous Man and Woman because the sword of state separates them and they are not touching.

Thanks for stopping by this month’s Thursday Doors and taking a look at my old and new photos and news, Dan has lots of interesting links over on his blog.

Advertisement