Knocksedan Near Swords

Here is a very remarkable circular moat, from which the locality derives its name, Knocksedan, i.e. the bill of the quicksand. It is elevated about 50 feet over the river, and commands a most extensive view. Ware, in reference to this object in his time, says, "Numbers of human bones are now to be seen lying promiscuously in this mount, which was opened for gravel some years ago by the orders of Mr. Blair, on whose land it stands.

Some curious gentlemen," he adds, "about two years ago discovered in it a human skeleton of a monstrous size, which measured from the ankle bone to the, top of the cranium eight feet four inches, so that, allowing a proportionable extension from the ankle to the sole of the foot, and for the skin and flesh covering the cranium, as well as for the space occupied by the cartilages between the several bones in a living body, the person, to whom this body belonged, must have been not far short of nine feet high.

The scull in the most solid part was better than a quarter of an inch thick, and the bones of the big toe were each of them two inches long, and three inches and a quarter in circumference. The dentes molares, or grinders, were also enormously big, and the tibia above 20 inches long.

The position of the head was to the north and south, and all the bones except the teeth were in a crumbling and decayed condition. He conjectures that these remains were deposited there after the battle of Clontarf. There are two similar mounts within half a mile of this place.

These funeral mounts, so much resembling the raths, and equally numerous over the country, are by the Irish Annals, particularly those of the Font Masters, ascribed to the very highest antiquity. Indeed, they are "modelled after such a manner as wisely and effectually to answer the ends for which they were first designed, defying the injuries of the weather, and all the usual assaults of devouring time.

They are raised on a large base, and gradually diminish as they advance upward, until at length they terminate at the top in a fiat surface, and in the whole have the appearance of a cone. They differ in their dimensions and heights, according to the quality of the person for whom they were raised, as they do also in the materials composing them, some being made of earth only heaped together, and others of small, round paving stones with sand or earth mixed, and piled up in a high cone covered with a coat of green sod."

As they were often thrown up over those who fell in war, they became commemorative of places where battles were fought. The practice of raising such monuments over the dead, is one of the many aboriginal principles, which adhered to the different societies that diverged from the confusion of Babel; such was the tomb of Patroclus, as described in the 23rd book of the Iliad, such were the barrows of Achilles Antilochus, Peneleus, Ajax Telamon, AEsytes,

Such were the mounts mentioned by Herodotus as raised over the Scythian kings, such those described by Strabo as constructed by the Myrsians and Phrygians over the dead, such the monument of Dercennus who governed Laurentum before the arrival of AEneas in Italy, such the royal mounts noticed by Lucan, such the pile erected over Damaratus the Corinthian, as recorded by Plutarch in his life of Alexander, such the tomb on the banks of the Wolga mentioned by Adam Olearius in his travels into Muscovy and Persia, and the tombs in Westphalia and Friesland described by Keisler in his Northern Antiquities, and such were the funeral piles of earth erected by the Danes over their kings and heroes, and which, during the long establishment of that people in Ireland, became mixed with the corresponding memorials of the natives.

About the glen of Brackenstown and in its woods, the botanist will find rosa arvensis, white trailing dog-rose; tilia Europoea, common lime tree; ranunculus auricomus, goldylocks; stachys palustris, marsh woundwort; geranium rotundifolium, round leaved crane's-bill; ulex Europoeus, common furze, the best fuel for heating ovens; carex remota, remote sedge; carex pendula, pendulous sedge; carex pseudo-cyperus, bastard cypress sedge; polypodium aculeatum, prickly polypody; meruleus umbilliferus, a delicate and minute species of mushroom; agaricus elephantinus, which, when in perfection, is almost white, when cut becomes red, and when left to gradual decay becomes as black as if burned into charcoal; various other species of the agaricus, or mushroom; boletus bovinus, cow-spunk, the young plants of which are eaten as a great delicacy in Italy; the Russians, Poles, and Germans, also account them a dainty; boletus igniarius, touchwood spunk, used for tinder in some parts of England as also in Germany, while the Laplanders burn it round their habitations to keep off the gadfly from the young reindeer, and the natives of Franconia are said to beat the inner substance into the form of leather and sew it together for garments; boletus olivaceus, lichen olivaceus, and scrophularia aquatica, water figwort, in the wet ditches.

More immediately near Knocksedan grow, silene inflata, bladder catchfly; tilia Europoea, common lime tree; and the prunus cerasus wild cherry tree. The cherry tree obtained its name from having been brought into Europe from Cerasus, a city of Pontus, by Lucullus the Roman General, after his conquests in Asia, and was, perhaps, the only substantial fruit of the Mithridatic war.

At Knocksedan, a bold bridge of a single, tall, narrow arch is erected over the glen. At one side of it a bad bridle road, but carried over a terrace that prettily overhangs the continuation of the glen already alluded to, crosses the rivulet by a worse than Al-Sirat bridge, and, passing by an ancient mill, leads into the holy solitude of [335]

a little ruinous village, on an uncultivated eminence, although within seven miles of the metropolis. Were the vicinity of this spot wooded, and its approaches made more practicable, it should be visited as a scene of much beauty and interest; in its present state it is utterly unknown; Sir Thomas Staples has the fee of this townland, which he lets at the acreable rent of 10s. per annum.

The ruins of the church present chancel and nave, divided by a circular arch, with doorways, also circularly arched. The length of the chancel is 10 yards, of the nave 15, the width of each being five yards. Ash trees flank and overhang the ruin, but, neither within its walls nor in the surrounding graveyard, is there any tomb worthy of notice.

The nave was common to all the people, the chancel was peculiar to the priests and sacred officers, and was always placed at the east end of the church. In the chancel, the altar or communion-table was placed, which none were allowed to approach but such as were in holy orders, and the admission of the laity during the service, was expressly forbidden in the Greek church by the 19th canon of the Council of Laodicea. In the service of the liturgy in the fifth year of Edward the Sixth, a clause was added at the end of the first Rubric, expressly enjoining that the chancels should remain as they had dome in times past. It is, however, to be observed, that the right of a seat and sepulchre in the chancel, was a privilege appertaining to every founder of a church.

The parish, in which this place is situated, takes its name; comprises 807a. 2r. 4p. in three townlands, and was returned in 1834 as having a population of 166 persons, all Roman Catholics The rectory being impropriate in the dean and chapter of St. Patrick's, this parish ranks as a curacy in the deanery and union of Swords.

The regal visitation of 1615 states this rectory to be impropriate. At which time, and previously, the Dillon family were the chief proprietors here, but in 1641 the inheritor, Luke Dillon, having joined the lords of the Pale, forfeited the whole townland [337] of Killeigh, containing 160 acres, together with the water-mill there; [Inquis. in Canc. Hib.] the manor, however, continued to be in the Hollywood family. For a notice of Killeigh in 1627, see at "Hollywood."

In 1666 John Hollywood, son and heir of Nicholas Hollywood or Artane, deceased, passed patent for Ballcarrig 375a., Baltra 67a., Westrew 68a., and the Moate of Killeigh 129a. statute measure; and in 1669, Lord Kingston had a grant of 80a. plantation measure here, with a water-mill and water-course.

A wild pathway, commencing at the before mentioned mill-head, leads hence to Chapel Midway, through a glen waving (12th of June) with scentless but graceful aquatic flowers, and overhung about mid-way by the ruinous remains of the old mansion-house of Westrew. Returning, however, through Knocksedan, crossing the lofty arch of its bridge, and leaving Brackenstown, and the now serrated walls, that once enclosed its demesne, at left, the course of the present excursion proceeds by some extensive remains of an old family mansion-house at Forest, which once belonged to the Armstrong family. Its ancient great doorcase is embodied in a farm-house. Beyond it at left is Fosterstown, formerly the seat of that true patriot Baron Hamilton, from which a bleak road conducts to

In 1359 Sir Elias Ashbourne was seised of various lands in Barbaderstown, Gadstown, "Pycotstown," Colwellstown, Brekdenstown, (Brackenstown,) Colyncoght, and Rath near Kilossery, with certain premises in Cook-street, which were then estreated for debts due to the crown.

Passing through Swords a picturesque road leads to Brazeel, at first ascending at the south of the churchyard, then passing on the edge of a terrace that overhangs the little river and glen of Brackenstown, with its mills in the depth of the secluded valley, and its mansion-house seen on the opposite ascent from the glen.

This house was formerly the residence of Viscount Molesworth, whose ancestor, Robert Molesworth of Brackenstown was one of those attainted in King James's parliament. He subsequently filled the office of ambassador from King William to the Court of Denmark, and ultimately was elevated to the Irish peerage by King George the First.

He was the author of "An Account of Denmark," and more especially of "Considerations on the Agriculture and Employment of the Poor of Ireland." In this pamphlet his lordship deprecates the ruinous consequences of a tenant being suffered to deal with his farm as he pleases, for "that is what his laziness, his ignorance, or dishonesty prompts him to without regard to covenants."

He recommends enactments restrictive of the courses of husbandry, the duration of leases, the extent of farms, the abolition of subletting, landjobbing and tithejobbing, the enclosure of commons, the establishment of agricultural schools in every county, the distribution of premiums to the best husbandmen, and the curtailment of holidays. On all which points he makes some very pertinent observations.

"In England," he 'says, "it is taken for granted that a tenant, who comes into a farm of good land with the grass side uppermost, at the usual rent of corn land in that country, and obtains liberty to break it up or make his best of it by ploughing it, has a profit during the first four years equal to the value of the inheritance of the land. Few landlords in this kingdom are sensible of this, and therefore do not provide accordingly."

He strongly recommends the erection of public granaries, to prevent the ruinous advance in the price of provisions when years of scarcity occur, and where he speaks of the agricultural schools, he suggests that Tusser's old book of husbandry should be taught to the boys, as "the very best English book of good husbandry and housewifery that ever was published, fitted for the use of humble men and farmers, and ordinary families. In these schools," he says, "I would not have any precepts, difference, or distinction of religions taken notice of, and nothing taught but only husbandry and good manners, and that the children should daily serve God according to their own religions, this school not being the proper place to make proselytes in."

On his death in 1725 his eldest son, John, who had been envoy to the Duke of Tuscany in 1710, and to the King of Sardinia in 1720, acquired the title as second Viscount, but dying in the same year was succeeded by his brother Richard, the third viscount, who became a field marshal in the army, and general and commander-in-chief of the forces in Ireland. He entered a volunteer in Queen Anne's reign, in 1702 received a commission in the Earl of Orkney's regiment, whose colours he carried at the battle of Blenheim, and on the eve of the battle of Ramillies was appointed aid-de-camp to the Duke of Marlborough, whom he rescued from the French, by mounting him on his horse, when run down by their cavalry.

After a campaign of active and successful service, he was appointed a colonel in 1710, and with his regixnent was sent into Spain where be fought under the Duke of Argyle and the great Staremberg, and on the breaking up of that regiment at Minorca, his lordship devoted the remainder of his life to study.

The water works at Chelsea were at this time carried on under his direction. In 1715 he was again called into military service, fought and was wounded at the battle of Preston. He died in 1758 and was succeeded in the title by his only son Richard, the fourth viscount.

On this townland, on the night of the tattle of the Boyne, the Duke of Berwick rallied about 7,000 foot, "of which he sent to acquaint King James, then in Dublin, and desired he would please to send him some horse and dragoons to enable him to make his retreat. The king accordingly ordered six troops of Luttrell's regiment or dragoons, and three of Abercorn's horse, (which were all he had but those newly arrived with the king) to march to the Duke's relief; but, as soon as it was night, that general found most of his gathering dispersed again, of which he sent an account." [Clarke's Life of James the Second, vol. ii. p. 402.]

Brazeel became subsequently the property of the Bolton family, of whom Edward Bolton, the founder of this line, was, for his attachment to the cause of King William, attainted in James's parliament, as was also Richard Bolton. The mansion was destroyed by fire some years since, at which time a unique portrait of Sir Richard Bolton is said to have been burned. He was formerly Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and in 1640 was impeached in the House of Commons as having assisted in the introduction of arbitrary government, by the assistance and countenance of the Earl of Strafford. In 1661, however, all records of this transaction were voted to be expunged, "inasmuch as they seemed to be an entrenchment upon the honour, worth, and integrity of honourable persons, whose memory this house cannot in justice suffer to be sullied with the least stain of evil report."