2019:180 - DUBLIN: 9-17 Andrew's Lane, Dublin

Monitoring was undertaken of groundworks associated with the redevelopment of Andrew’s Lane Theatre, at 9–17 Andrew’s Lane, in response to planning conditions attached to the proposed development (Planning Ref.: 29S.248844). It follows a previous assessment report carried out by Karen Dempsey of IAC Ltd in 2017.

The site is located within the zone of archaeological potential for the historic centre of Dublin City (DU018-020) in an area previously known as Hoggen Green. This was a large area that is thought to have once contained a number of burial mounds dating from the 9th–10th centuries. It also contained a Norse assembly place, which comprised a large mound known as ‘Thing Motte’ (DU018-020132).

The development area comprised a 36m x 16m plot. Redevelopment of the site called for the demolition of the current 20th-century two-story building and the reduction of ground by 6m. During groundwork a number of upstanding post-medieval/modern structures were identified. These comprised a two-chambered limestone and mortar cellar accessed by cut granite stairs, a red brick and mortar cellar with associated red brick floor surface, and a limestone and mortar wall; the outer red brick walls for both cellars were uncovered in truncated sections continuing north through the site. Ground reduction produced a generally consistent stratigraphy of demolition rubble and debris 0.5m below previous ground surface over a mid-yellowish natural boulder clay.

The site produced some upstanding post-medieval/modern remains but in all cases were of late construction and heavily truncated by later development. These cellars broadly corresponding to features identifiable on the mid-18th- to 19th-century mapping. The layout of the cellars corresponds most closely to structures shown on the 25-inch Ordnance Survey mapping from the early 20th century. Red brick, slate, pantile, transfer printed ware and black glazed red-earthenware were all noted during the monitoring works.

All remains were excavated and as such, no further archaeological mitigation is deemed necessary.