Downing Vault, Ballyscullion Parish Church, Main Street, Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry, BT45 8AB

Downing Vault

The Downing Vault is a rectangular building of sandstone construction located in the graveyard on the north side of Ballyscullion Parish Church. It is finished with a gabled roof covered in slate and has a chamfered projecting base.

The entrance elevation faces east and is pierced by an iron door featuring a sunburst motif at its centre. Above the door is a plaque inscribed "IID 1776". Drainage from the parapet gutters is managed by cast iron downpipes on the east side.

The west elevation projects forward and is pedimented above a recessed marble inscription framed within plain architraves with plain square stops raised at the corners. Above this the main gabled face terminates in projecting shoulders. The south side is finished at roof level by a plain stone frieze moulded at the top, with a recessed marble inscription at its centre surmounted by a hood moulding and no base provided. The north side is similarly detailed, also containing a recessed marble plaque.

The marble inscriptions record the interment of Adam Downing Esquire, a man of considerable standing who died on 15th December 1719 in his 53rd year. His inscription notes he was descended from an ancient Devonshire family and married Ann, daughter of John Jackson of Coleraine. He served with distinction at the siege of Derry and the Battle of the Boyne, commanding an independent company, and was subsequently appointed a commissioner of the army in 1715 and deputy governor of the county. The inscription describes him as an active magistrate, humane landlord, and hospitable neighbour. His son John erected the marble in his memory and himself raised an independent company at great expense during the Scotch Rebellion in 1745. The vault also contains John's daughter Margaret and his wife Ann, daughter of the Reverend Simon Rowan, rector of the parish for many years, who died on 2nd February 1776 aged 65. The south side records Catherine Jamison Downing Nesbitt, who died 26th February 1886 aged nearly 86. The north side inscription documents the interments of several later descendants of Adam Downing: Dawson Downing of Rowansgift interred 14th July 1807; the Reverend Alexander Clotworthy Downing, Rector of Leckpatrick and eldest brother of Dawson, interred 13th April 1812; Tamison Downing, widow of the Reverend, interred 2nd November 1817 aged 80; and William Downing, son of Dawson, interred 25th March 1845 aged 26.