2024:300 - Kilbixy Leper Hospital, Westmeath
County: Westmeath
Site name: Kilbixy Leper Hospital
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WM011-040001
Licence number: 21E0622 Ext.
Author: Catriona Baldwin
Author/Organisation Address: Lynwood House, Ballinteer Road, Dublin 16
Site type: Leper hospital
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 632065m, N 761547m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.602788, -7.515534
Archaeological monitoring of the Phase 4 conservation works at Kilbixy Leper Hospital (RMP WH011-040001), Ballynacarrigy, Co. Westmeath took place from August to December 2024. The works follow three earlier phases of conservation works (see 2021:354 entry, N. Garahy & 2022:597, S. Deery).
The Leper Hospital is situated within the Baronstown Demesne, bordering the graveyard of St Bigseach’s Church (RMP WM011-040002). It is also located within the Zone of Archaeological Potential (ZAP) associated with the deserted medieval settlement of Kilbixy (RMP WM011-155).
A phased approach to the project was undertaken. Preliminary archaeological investigations, in the form of a single test trench across the east wall and void, informed a detailed conservation method statement.
The subsequent works included:
1. The clearance of recent non-archaeological spoil to the east (exterior) of the structure
2. Clean-up of the interior of monument, including the backfilling of the void
3. Limited masonry repairs to northern section of the east wall
The Phase 4 Conservation works are now complete. No new features, finds or deposits of archaeological significance were identified during the course of the investigations or the subsequent monitoring.
