48 Gossipings about the Parish of Saul 



which he found when making excavations. He pointed out to 

 me on one occasion a mark in the field next the old road, 

 where there was a vaulted chamber still remaining, in a perfect 

 state of preservation, flagged, and a groined roof. There is a 

 well carved stone to be seen, built into the wall at the entrance 

 gate. It is the cover lid of a sarcophagus, ornamented on the 

 edges with a well-defined key, in relief, carved on the face. In 

 the chapter house, Westminster, there is a petition, with the 

 seal of the Abbey of vSaul attached. On the seal is inscribed — 

 " S, commune capituli sancti, Patricii de Saballo." The abbot 

 is vested as a priest, sits in a rich chair, holding a cross in his 

 left hand, and raises his right hand, as in the act of giving 

 benediction. The lower compartment of the seal exhibits a 

 bishop holding a crozier. There is a brass seal in the Belfast 

 Museum bearing the following inscription: — *' S. Fratris 

 Johannis, Abbatis de Saballo." The two old castles before 

 referred to have long since been demolished, and no trace of 

 them remaining. I will try, however, to localise them. The 

 River Coil — Coile — Quoile — signifies narrow, wooded river, and 

 is derived from the word Cill — Kyle (the Kyles of Bute, occ). 

 It has, at an Anglo-Norman period, been adorned with no less 

 than twenty-six castles. The townland of Quoile formerly 

 comprised four denominations, viz. : — Cairne-na-grane (the 

 sun's heap), Ferry Quarter, Castle Quarter, and Mill Quarter. 

 Cairne-na-grane still claims its original name and position. 

 The second castle stood on the late Mr Patrick Henvey's farm, 

 at the side of the timber pond ; the third on Castle Hill ; 

 Ballyhasson (the hill of the cave), Mr. John West's old farm ; 

 and the fourth on Mill Hill, at Lower Saul. De Alton's Castle, 

 which is the name of Quoile Castle, is still standing. It was 

 last occupied by members of the West family. At a place called 

 Struell (Strohill, the land of the streamlet) in the taxation of 

 1306, about half-a-mile from Saul, are the holy wells of 

 St. Patrick. It has been the custom from time immemorial 

 for hundreds of pilgrims to resort to the wells, in order to 

 perform some religious duty and restore their health by bathing 



