1988:46 - LAGAVOREEN, Duleek Street, Drogheda, Louth

The granting of planning permission to the owner of this site at Duleek St., Drogheda, for the erection of a filling station and provision of ancillary services, was reported to the Office of Public Works in March 1986. In view of its proximity to known historical features, in particular to the supposed line of the medieval town wall, it was decided that any clearance of the site should be undertaken only under archaeological supervision and that any further works should be preceded by trial trenching.

Mechanical clearance of the site was carried out in July 1986 and no indication of undisturbed levels or features was noted, nor were any significant artefacts recovered. It was then recommended that no further activity should be permitted without prior archaeological investigation.

Trial cuttings and limited excavations were carried out in June 1988, when two trenches were opened, one along the long axis of the site and the other, adjoining, across most of its width. The first cutting revealed considerable disturbance to a depth of c. 1.75m, the main distinguishable features being a rough layering or spread of stones with inclusions of brick and mortar overlying a deposit of dark fill, much disturbed. A substantial portion of a black ware pottery vessel, probably late 18th century in date, was recovered from this fill, as well as a single fragment of glazed medieval pottery. The cutting intersected a deep cess pit or soak hole, which had been cut through all levels to a depth of 0.2m, containing layering of dark, moist fill with some burnt material, but no artefacts.

The second trench revealed a much disturbed layer of rubble, concrete and mortar almost directly under the surface, extending down to the undisturbed natural with an average depth of 0.5m. Near its western end towards the supposed direction of the old town wall, this cutting diagonally intersected a trench or ditch about 2m wide and over 0.9m in depth, with gently sloping sides and a shallow, U-shaped bottom. On its outer edge were three fragments of what may have been timber stakes or posts, sunk to a depth of a few centimetres into the natural. Some layering of the fill was noted, consisting mainly of saturated organic material with much charcoal. A fragment of glazed medieval pottery and a well preserved portion of worked timber were recovered from the lower levels.

This feature was partly cut at its north west corner by another large, circular, soakage or cesspit, about 3.5m in diameter and extending to a depth of 1.4m From the upper levels, above the fill of the ditch, three additional fragments of medieval glazed pottery were recovered.

The ditch was interpreted as representing the remnant of a substantial feature which seemed to extend more or less in line with the supposed line of the early town wall and to be within its inner face. The recovery of medieval pottery from its lower layers would indicate that it may (still?) have been open in the 14th century.

Apart from the recovery of the lower levels of this ditch or trench, no significant early features were identified and since the site showed abundant evidence of very considerable disturbance in all areas, the survival of such other features seems unlikely.