durrow abbey co. offaly conservation plan - Offaly County Council

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Durrow Abbey is a site of great historical and cultural
impor tance on a national and international
level. There is rare surviving evidence of occupation
of the site from the sixth century to the present
day.
As it survives today Durrow Abbey reveals little
of the significant early medieval origins of the site.
Extensive remains survive beneath the subsequent
layers of history. It is these earlier layers which are
of greatest impor tance in terms of the potential
wealth of information which they hold. This surviving
archaeological evidence provides great potential
to reveal more about the earlier periods of
occupation of the site, the origins of Christianity in
Ireland and early medieval society as a whole.
The demesne landscape, which dates from the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, characterises
the site as seen today. This landscape is impor tant
as a well preserved example of a natural style landscape
design. The incorporation of many surviving
archaeological features into the landscape design
enhances its impor tance.
Durrow Abbey House is however a key feature in
the designed landscape and many of the views and
vistas are directed to it. The house is an interesting
but an unexceptional, example of a Tudor Gothic
house, re-modelled in the early twentieth century.
The significance of the house is more historic and
social interest than its architectural merit.
The site is much cherished by the local community
and has for many centuries held strong spiritual
associations.
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