Movilla Cemetery, Old Movilla Road, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23

Large cemetery, on the eastern edge of Newtownards, roughly pentagonal in plan and measuring c.320m by c.240m (at its greatest extent). To the N of the cemetery is the ruins of Movilla abbey, whose N facade forms part of a high rubble wall which faces directly out onto the Movilla Road. To the E the cemetery is bounded by the old Movilla Road. The ruin contains the oldest (medieval) gravestones, with others dating from the seventeenth century onwards, in the immediate vicinity of the abbey. Some, not entirely appropriate, fairly recent tombs are sited within the old abbey walls. Amongst the more elaborate tombs is that belonging to the Corry family (to the S of the abbey ruins) which consists of a miniature Greek Doric temple; there is also a large barrel vault of the 1830s belonging to the McFadden family of Newtownards, a short distance SW of the abbey. There are also many (mainly nineteenth century) headstones with Masonic carvings. Due to the usual wear, grave subsidence and recent storms, many headstones have collapsed, and some are in danger of being reparably damaged. The southern half of the cemetery generally contains the more recent graves and appears to have been formally laid out. At the main eastern entrance is a small picturesque cemetery lodge, built in c.1876, presumably as the caretaker’s residence. See also refs. HB24/08/003, /005 & /006.