Newtown Jerpoint, medieval lost town in Ireland
Newtown Jerpoint is a 12th-century ruined town near Thomastown in County Kilkenny with remains of houses, a church, and other medieval structures spread across the landscape. The site sits beside the River Nore and reveals the foundations of approximately 27 dwellings, a courthouse, a wool mill, and a tannery that once formed a functioning settlement.
The town was likely founded in the 12th century by either Earl Marshall or Griffin Fitzwilliam and takes its name from a bridge crossing the River Nore that was crucial for trade and travel. It gradually lost importance, possibly when the bridge fell into disuse and road routes shifted to other locations.
The place holds a connection to Saint Nicholas, whose remains are believed to be buried here and who inspired the Santa Claus legend. This link to religious history remains central to how people understand and experience the site today.
The site can be explored at your own pace with gentle walks through the ruins offering views of the surrounding land and river. Plan for about two hours to properly walk through the old streets and examine the building foundations scattered across the grounds.
A 2007 Lidar survey using laser technology revealed the buried outlines of buildings and streets hidden beneath the ground. This hidden mapping shows that what appears as scattered stones today was once a fully structured and active community.
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