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The monastery that became Toureen Peacaun was
founded in the 7th century by St. Alban (or Abhun). His successor was St. Beccan
(also referred to as Peacaun, Beagan and Mo-Bhec-oc). It was from this
- St. Beccan (Peacaun) - that
the name of the site derives. A date in the 7th
century is suggested by tradition for the foundation of this
monastery and the presence of a 13th century cross suggests the
monastery was still active at that time.
This ancient monastic site contains the ruins of a medieval 12th century Romanesque Church, a holy well, a west cross, an east cross, many other cross slabs, numerous small inscribed slabs and a sundial. The photo opposite shows the church with remains of the east cross in the rectangular area in the left foreground. |
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The vertical stone dial is 1200 mm high with a 260 mm wide stem and a 530mm diameter head and is dated circa 800 A.D. Originally located in the cemetery of the old monastery it was built into the wall of the medieval church during restoration work at the site in 1944. Hour lines have all but disappeared and nothing remains of the gnomon but a 35mm hole in a 70mm square recess where a wooden or metal gnomon would have fitted. |