St. Michael's Medieval church and its graveyard stand at the east end of the town of Athy. According to the plaque on the south wall of the ruined church, this place was already existing in 1297.
It seems that the church was built by St. Michael family, Barons of Rheban and Lords of the Manor of Woodstock, of Anglo-Norman origin, and hence it was dedicated to the saint with the same name.
Unfortunately almost nothing remains of this church, the east gable and the north wall are completely missing, while the west gable still survives though very overgrown. There's still part of the south wall with its original doorway.
The ruins are completely fenced off and any inspection of the interiors of the church is impossible. Inside and around the ruins are many ancient gravestones. The modern graveyard is at west and north of the ancient church, and the ground level of this part of the burial ground is much lower than the ground level around the ruined building.
|