Movilla Abbey, Movilla Road, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23

Ruined remains of a medieval abbey situated on a high bank on the south side of Movilla Road at the north-east edge of Newtownards, with a large graveyard to the south.

The ruins measure approximately 33 metres by 6 metres and are constructed in split stone rubble. Much of the east and west gables remain standing. The east gable retains the outline of a large three-light pointed arch window opening with tracery, though the opening itself is now blocked by a small narrow semicircular-headed window inserted into the middle light and splayed internally. The west gable contains a pointed arch window set at a higher level, with transoms featuring cusping. The north wall, which faces onto Movilla Road, shows large sections repaired in fairly recent times and includes evidence of a now-blocked doorway in the centre and a pair of small lancet windows to the east. Propped against the inner side of the north wall are eight medieval grave slabs. The largest stone, positioned to the left, bears a Gaelic inscription (ÓRDO/DERTREND – "A prayer for Dertrend") and is probably of Early Christian origin. The other slabs are probably 13th century, with one of them carved with a pair of shears. The south wall no longer remains. Within the former interior of the church are various gravestones dating from the 1600s onwards, as well as a large rubble-built tomb in the shape of a miniature gabled church, dating from the late 19th century.

The monastery of Movilla is reputed to have been founded in 540 by Saint Finnian, a member of the royal dynasty of Dál Fiatach, who ruled over much of what is now County Down. Originally known as "Mag Bile", the settlement around the church appears to have been quite extensive and, like many other Early Christian important ecclesiastical centres in Ireland, probably amounted to a small town. Its significance is evident from the fact that its head sometimes bore the title of "Bishop". The monastery was plundered by Norse raiders in 824, a blow from which it never fully recovered. In 910 it was joined to the monastery of Bangor and adopted the Augustinian rule, bringing Movilla into line with many other houses in Ireland and Europe. Following the coming of the Normans to the area, the church was rebuilt to serve the rejuvenated settlement of Nove Ville de Blathewyc, or "New town". The building was extended in the 15th century, but its life was abruptly ended in 1542 when it was suppressed by Henry VIII. At the time of its dissolution, the church possessed many townlands within the immediate area, a measure of both its wealth and importance. The graveyard to the south of the church, containing graves dating from the 1600s to the present day, was originally bounded to the south by the line of the old Movilla Road. However, the road was redirected to the northern side of the church ruin in the mid-19th century, allowing the graveyard to expand southwards.