The High Crosses of Downpatrick, Kilbroney, Donaghmore and Dromore, and the Round Towers of Maghera, Drumbo and Nendrum may be familiar sights to County Down locals, but how many of us today understand their true significance?
Now the artistry, history and symbolism of the County’s High Crosses and Round Towers, dating back more than a thousand years, are the subject of a new book, launched this week by Down County Museum.
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At the launch of ‘The High Crosses and Round Towers of County Down – A Field Guide, are Ian Meighan,Geologist, South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, Down District Council Chairman Cllr Billy Walker, Peter Harbinson, Author, and Mike King, Curator of Down County Museum.[/caption]
The new 72-page illustrated guide has been created by the well-known archaeologist Peter Harbison. Working closely with the Museum, he has planned a circular tour of these important monuments in County Down, drawing on the assistance of geologist Ian Meighan to provide information about the stones from which the crosses and towers were made.
This field guide is a delightfully colourful and well illustrated little book with numerous photographs, drawings, maps and old paintings and drawings. County Down is steeped in history and South Down Margaret Ritchie in the foreword said: “There is nothing I would recommend more strongly to the visitor to County Down, than to go for a walk in the footsteps of St Patrick by visiting the many historic and atmospheric Patrician sites in the area, especially Saul Church, Inch Abbey, Struell Wells and Down Cathedral.”
The new book, which would be a great pocket accompaniment to the many ramblers in County Down and showing the GPS reference points to the various sites and crosses, reveals the stories behind these symbols of Ireland’s early Christian heritage and points out what to look for at each site on a tour around the County, which will intrigue locals and visitors alike.
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The High Cross which looked down The Mall in Downpatrick is now housed in Down County Museum awaiting a new exhibition area to be built.[/caption]
Welcoming the publication which is the latest addition to Down County Museum’s ‘Down Survey Series’, Down District Council Chairman Billy Walker said: “Each year the Museum launches a new book in a bid to bring its collections and local heritage to a wider audience and we are delighted to add ‘The High Crosses and Round Towers of County Down: a Field Guide’ to that expanding collection. Peter Harbison has managed to create for us a guide which is not only scholarly and insightful, but also easy to read and captivating for anyone who has a curiosity about their surroundings.”
MP for South Down, Margaret Ritchie, also welcomed the publication and said: “Peter is renowned for his in-depth knowledge of high crosses and round towers after many years studying these monuments, and we are fortunate that he has now turned his attention to County Down. The new publication will bring his knowledge – and evident enthusiasm – to a wider audience and I hope that it will send lots of people out to explore the history that is on their doorsteps.”
High crosses were set up from the late eighth century to the early tenth century, and County Down is fortunate to have two of the earliest high crosses in Ireland, one located at Kilbroney and the other, the massive St Patrick’s Cross, now in three pieces inside the entrance of Down Cathedral. Down also has several later Scripture crosses carved with figural scenes, mainly based on biblical subjects, such as those at Donaghmore and Downpatrick.
Round towers were built at important church centres from the tenth to the twelfth centuries, and were called bell-towers, although they were probably also built to secure important church treasures and to attract pilgrims.
At a time when the Museum is preparing to exhibit the newly conserved Downpatrick High Cross in a new extension, in order to bring more tourists to explore our rich Christian heritage, this new guide places such important monuments in their local and wider context. It is intended to help raise the profile of an area already known for its associations with St Patrick and the arrival of Christianity here in the fifth century AD.
‘The High Crosses and Round Towers of County Down, a Field Guide’, by Peter Harbison, is now on sale in Down County Museum shop, at the museum entrance, priced £5.
Contact Down County Museum on 028 44 615218 for more information.
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