Knockbane Estate Bell

 

Knockbane Estate Bell

Hazel Morrison

Knockbane

Situate in the centre of the north wall of Knockbane estate’s walled garden is this gateway. The original iron gates still hang under the arch’s voussoir stones. A pedimented belfry atop the archway holds, within a venetian opening, a mounted bell which was used to call the workers from around the estate, signalling the start and end of a working day. On the south facing left pillar of the belfry there is a date plaque, which unfortunately is now illegible, but most likely reflects the date of the original estate construction by the O’Flaherty clan in 1803.