Antiquities In Down
Antiquities
As typical of the dol- mens of Co. Down (Accommodation, Down, Ireland) the structure known as the Sliddery- ford dolmen at Newcastle may be mentioned. It is situated in a field close to the road from Dundrum to Newcastle, within 1 1/2 miles of Dundrum. The dolmen stands about 9 ft. high, and the granite cap-stone, which measures 8 ft. by 7 1/2 ft., is 3 1/2 ft. thick. A little distance from the dolmen is a large pillar stone measuring 11 ft. 3 in. in height from the ground. Another well-known Co. Down (Self Catering, Down, Ireland) dolmen is that of Legananny, which stands on the western slope of Boley Lough about 6 miles north- west of Castlewellan in the townland of Legananny. The cap-stone is a coffin-shaped granite slab, measuring ii ft. in length and 5 ft. in width at the broadest part; it is supported by 3 pillars. The Kempe 
Stone dolmen in the same county also deserves mention; it is not far from the village of Dundonald. The cap-stone is of large dimensions and covers a chamber formed of six large blocks. Human bones were discovered in 1830 on excavating the chamber, in which in 1897 Mr. Hugh Kirk of Newtownards discovered the fragment of a decorated food vessel of Bronze-Age date. Many of the dolmens arc in a ruined condition. The largest of the two monuments at Kilcloony deserves description. The; cap-stone measures 20 ft. long by 13 ft. broad, and is in places J ft. thick. It is supported by two pillars at the east end, each about 6 ft. in height, and slopes to the west, resting on a low slab which forms the end of the chamber. A smaller dolmen of similar construction lies some yards to the west of this. There is also a remarkable series of monuments in the townland of Finner, parish of Inishmacsaint, consisting of 
several dolmens, and a earn containing a dolmen-like chamber ; the earn has been ruined, and burnt human bones were discovered in the cist. A short distance from the earn were discovered a grave containing burnt bones, and an urn ; close by are traces of two stone circles.
In the town of Newtownards are the ruins of the once famous monastery of Movilla. The extant remains consist merely of the gables, and portions of the side walls of the ancient church, into which arc built an interesting series of Anglo-Norman slabs. They are of the usual type with a floriated cross; some bear a sword showing them to be monuments of knights, others bear shears for a lady. There is one slab with an Irish inscription to Dertriu, who is supposed to have been Abbot of Movilla in the tenth century. The ruins of the church at present to be seen probably belong to the fifteenth century. The original foundation is reputed to date from about a.d. 550, the monastery having been founded by St Finnian for Augustinian Canons.