2025:567 - Wells Townland, Ballyedmund, Gorey, Wexford

Planning permission was obtained for the development of an Integrated Constructed Wetland for Secondary and Tertiary Treatment of Wastewaters Generated at Wells House, Ballyedmund, Gorey, Co. Wexford. As part of the planning grant, it was required that ground works associated with the development be archaeologically monitored due to the development being located c. 200m to the north of the zone of notification for a recorded ringfort (WX021-041). This ringfort was identified as a cropmark defined by a single fosse enclosing a circular enclosure with a dimeter of c. 30m.

The works were undertaken within the curtilage of Wells House, a Protected Structure.  Wells House, substantially re-designed and rebuilt between 1836-45, stood on lands originally acquired by John Warren, a Cromwellian soldier. Warren built the original house and owned almost 6,000 acres. The demesne today is much smaller, covering an area of c. 450 acres incorporating ornate and walled gardens, woodland and farmland with the well-preserved Wells House approached by an impressive avenue. A man-made pond is immediately to the east of the field where the works were sited. This pond is denoted on the 1^st Edition OS map (1839).

The substantial part of the development works were located to the east of Wells House, in the north-east and east part of a pasture field where seven cells were excavated for the Integrated Constructed Wetland for Secondary and Tertiary Treatment of Wastewaters. A narrow trench was excavated close to the field’s south boundary to accommodate the laying of pipework from existing septic tanks close to Wells House to the new system.

No archaeological features and/or remains were uncovered in the course of monitoring ground works associated with the project. Evidence emerged for land drainage works.

In three excavated cells – Nos 1, 2 and 3 – located in the north-east part of the field, there was extensive evidence for drainage works of which some of the drains were piped. There was little evidence for drainage works within the mixing cell and Cells A-C located along the east side of the field.  Evidence emerged for drainage works in the trench excavated to accommodate new pipework. Located close to the field’s south boundary and gradually veering into its south-west corner, three drains were uncovered in this trench, one of which was piped, another stone infilled and the other capped with stone.

These drainage works are evidence of the major land drainage/reclamation works that were undertaken on the demesne/estate. Some of the works were undertaken in recent times with the use of concrete pipes whilst other drains contained earthenware pipes and some were stone infilled. These works are part of an extensive network of drains throughout the demesne, some of which were in place by the time of compiling the 1897-1905 OS map.

There was also evidence for modern disturbance.  In two cells, located in the east part of the field, there was disturbance in this area with spreads of red brick in two cells whilst there was a large machine-cut area of disturbance in another cell.  Within this area of disturbance was mixed soil containing stone, fragmented/crushed red brick and broken glass. A straight-sided linear cut extended immediately to the south of the area of disturbance and may have been a drain.

Close to the south edge of another cell, a straight-sided linear cut, 1.2m wide, extended across its entire width and beneath its east and west baulks. This linear cut/ditch was infilled with a moderate-grained light to mid-brown clayey silt sand with little or no inclusions. Traces of red brick were found within its infill. This feature may have been the remains of a removed boundary.