2024:390 - 1-3 Cheston Street, Carrickfergus, Antrim

The development is located on the north-west side of Cheston Street, Carrickfergus, within the zone of archaeological potential associated with the town. It was proposed to undertake reinstatement works to the two dwellings to provide two habitable open-plan living spaces, 1-bedroom dwellings with en-suite facilities with private shared external yard and storage/utility space, with the existing access to be reinstated.
Two previous phases of archaeological work, carried out in July 2022 under license AE/2022/019, and then in April 2023 under license AE/2023/093, revealed mixed garden soil deposits inside the building, extending below the levels of the ground reduction required to underpin the existing walls and construct new internal floors.
It was considered that the existing drainage and sewage network in the rear yard area of the development was fit for purpose, however on examination, this proved not to be the case, with some refurbishment works required.
The contractor made contact with the archaeologist who obtained an archaeological license to undertake archaeological monitoring of ground disturbance associated with the proposed ground works. This took place on 14 March 2024.

The monitoring revealed a mixed deposit of ‘garden soil’ extending down below the levels of disturbance associated with the refurbishment works to the drainage and sewage system. The pottery recovered suggested a date range from the 18th to the 20th centuries, while the quantity of animal bone would accord with the historic references to the area as Butcher’s Row. The one slightly unusual find was a ceramic screw associated with old plumbing systems, and its finds spot, at the west end of the yard accords with this being the location of the original outside toilet.