Medieval Bray Project’s findings
THE MEDIEVAL Bray Project held a day of talks recently at the Cornerstone Church on Main Street.
The Medieval Bray Project was founded in 2015 as a not for profit community research initiative based in Bra. The initiative is based in the study and dissemination of information about the medieval manor of Bray, AD 1200-1540.
The initiative is free to join and requires no previous knowledge or experience. The group has been researching Raheen na Cluig church site since 2016. To date they have completed two seasons of excavations 2017 and 2018 at the site.
Saturday, November 17, was the culmination of their research to date. A range of speakers and presenters were there to share the history and archaeology associated with Raheen. The information that the project has retrieved so far suggests that the church was part of a monastic farming estate which existed from around AD 1400 to 1540 belonging to the Friary of Augus- tinian Hermits based in Dublin.
Speakers at the event included Deirdre Burns, heritage officer at Wicklow County council, as well as David McIlreavy, Therese Hicks and Mary Hargaden. Dr Niav Gallagher discussed the failure of the Anglo Norman frontier in Wicklow, around AD 1400.
Dr Geraldine Stout spoke about Monastic grange farms in Ireland. Dr Julie Anne LaFaye spoke on the Friaries of the Augustinian Hermits.
Also presenting was Dave Swift,a professional historical presenter and material culture expert who gave two demonstrations of material culture. Wordwell books also attended.
Around 50 people came through the day. The work of the group continues in new year with plans for a final season of excavations at Raheen in 2020. They are also assessing other sites around Brsy as suitable research targets.
Organisers thanked Gill Toal and Delwen Bowler for refreshments, Gerry Morgan for photos and sound management, and MC Conor Clancy, as well as Kyle and Marty of the Cornerstone.