The former church of St John the Baptist in Stonehall, County Westmeath. Built in 1809 thanks to a grant of £600 from the Board of First Fruits, the building was described by Samuel Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) Samuel Hall as ‘a plain, badly constructed edifice, in indifferent repair.’ Nevertheless it survived to serve its purpose until taken out of service in 1962: since then the church has fallen into its present ruin.
Amazing degree of deterioration over a 50 year abandonment! Love the term “indifferent repair”! As one charged with making condition reports for churches I shall have to use that term! Thanks as ever for the post.
I think that it was Samuel Lewis rather than Samuel Hall who wrote the Topographical Dictionary of Ireland
Oops, correction duly made (I had been consulting Mr and Mrs Hall just before I wrote the text…)