Today we are in Westmeath, close to a little old cemetery church ruinand old graves. Close by is Fore Abbey. Up on top of the hill is a spooky mausoleum.
The mausoleum is known as The Anchorite Cell Chapel and is part of the Fore Abbey complex. The original monastery here was founded by St Feichin in 630 and later expanded to have up to 300 monks and 2000 students living on its grounds. The abbey was also ‘rich pickings’ as it was recorded to have been burned and attacked 12 times between 771 and 1169 by both the Vikings’ hoards and Gaelic clans. Later during the medieval period, Fore Abbey was often looted by the English authorities as its contents were classified as ‘alien property’. This was due to the strong ties that the abbey had with France especially when England was at war with them. The little building beside the chapel is the anchorite cell that gives the chapel its name. This building was occupied by hermits until the 17th century and a small plaque inside commemorates Patrick Beglan, the very last hermit known in Ireland who occupied this cell until 1616. An anchorite is one who lives the reclusive life of a hermit for religious reasons.
The Anchorite’s Cell is situated at the foot of a rock outcrop known as ‘Carraig Chaile Fhobhair’ and is part of the large eclectically complex of Fore Abbey and surrounds. It is the 6th of the 7 ‘Wonders of Fore’, known as ‘the Anchorite in the Stone’ but habitation at this site predates its use as a hermitage. The origins of a church at this location probably predate the 2nd millennium however what is certain is that a church is first mentioned here in 1302 ecclesiastical tax records.
When looking at the structure known as the ‘Anchorite’s cell’ it can be hard to ascertain the different elements of this building. Originally the hermit’s cell stood where the two story 15th century tower house on the eastern end of the church is situated, and was incorporated into its successor. This tower house was damaged during the 16th century and was rebuilt by Richard Nugent in 1680. The original church was integrated into the 19th century Nugent Mausoleum that now stands attached to the tower. There is evidence that the original church may have actually stood to the north of the tower but this is hard to determine.
The story of the ‘Hermit in the Stone’ is certainly one of the more fascinating aspects of the cell, especially considering we known the name of the last anchorite who lived there named Patrick Beglin (also known as Begley) who died in 1616. Beglin made the decision to spend the remainder of his life in his small dark cell where, ‘a tall man can hardly stretch himself at length’, in meditation and prayer. Beglin said he would never leave by the door of the cell however for whatever reason he did try leave the cell by the window and broke his neck. He was buried under a ‘heap of stones within the cell’.
Greville-Nugent Mausoleum, FORE, Fore, WESTMEATH
Freestanding four-bay mausoleum and mortuary chapel, built 1867, abutting and incorporating a single-bay two-storey rubble limestone tower house, on square-plan, to the west, built c.1500 and altered c.1867 with addition of a battlemented parapet. Steeply pitched roof to later structure with flagstone covering having ashlar limestone kneeler stones/fractables, moulded ashlar limestone eaves course and a moulded ashlar ridge course to roof apex with finial block to east gable. Coursed square rubble limestone walls with extensive detailing. Including clasping corners buttresses and a chamfered ashlar plinth. Ogee-headed lancet window openings, set in flush ashlar limestone surrounds, to nave (north and south) having cast-iron bars. Pointed-arched doorcase to west having scrolled ashlar limestone surround and timber boarded double-doors with chevron pattern. Sandstone memorial above doorcase, dated 1680, commemorating the Nugent Family. Number of monuments and memorials to the interior, of main medieval and post medieval date, most commemorating the Nugent Family. Memorial dated 1616 reads 'last hermit of Fore, Patrick Begley'. Set back from road on side of a steep hill overlooking Fore Abbey to the west. Site is enclosed by a battlemented rubble limestone wall with ashlar coping and a projecting string course. Dressed limestone gate piers to west having iron gates.
There are bones on the Altar and we heard footsteps inside
This building has been used as a mausoleum by the Nugent Family since 1680 but it owes its present form to an extensive and expensive makeover by Pugin and Ashlin, a renowned architectural firm of international standing, in 1867. This nineteenth century work uses extensive Gothic detailing.
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• Anchorite Cell / Fore ...
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