By Julie Waters
THE campaign to return Movilla Abbey’s 13th century Anglo-Norman coffin lids to the borough is gathering pace, eight years after they were removed.
Hailed as one of the most important collections of carved artefacts in Northern Ireland, the ‘Movilla Stones’ were removed in 2018 for restoration and conservation.
The coffin lids had been built into a section of the Abbey’s north wall and efforts are now ongoing to find a suitable location in the borough that will both guarantee public access and protect their future.
It is understood the stones are currently being stored; alderman Stephen McIlveen has welcomed confirmation that discussions are to take place between Ards and North Down Council and Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities about the artefacts’ future.
“The Movilla Stones are an important part of the heritage of Newtownards and I have been campaigning for their return for the past five years,” said the Newtownards alderman.
“I have been liaising with HED over this time and brought a motion to task council officers to engage HED about he return of the stones to the borough.
“Michelle McIlveen MLA has also played an important role through her written questions to the Communities Minister on this issue and I thank her for her efforts in this regard.
“For some time, we had been informed that the stones were still undergoing specialist conservation works but in the most recent response to Michelle’s questions we were advised that HED were now considering options.”
Said Mr McIlveen: “In response to this, I reached out to the Department and to the council. There is a desire to see the stones returned but the question is of finding a suitable location that will ensure accessibility to the stones and their future conservation. That may involve a meantime solution.
“Following my intervention, I have been advised that a meeting will take place soon between HED and Council officers to explore those options with a view to the return of these important artefacts.”
