County: Waterford Site name: WATERFORD: Peter Street/Bakehouse Lane, Custom House B Ward
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Orla Scully, Waterford Archaeological Excavations
Site type: Historic town
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 660779m, N 612423m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.260160, -7.109670
In October 1989, subsequent to the demolition of modern buildings, a six-week excavation of medieval urban stratigraphy commenced.
The excavation was financed by Sisk Properties Ltd. Owing to the urgent need to commence development, the amount of time for excavation was strictly limited.
The eastern end of the cemetery of St Peter's Church was excavated. Burials dated primarily from the 13th-15th centuries. The graveyard area had been heavily truncated by post-medieval cellars.
To the south-east of the cemetery, substantial remains of a medieval stone building were found. This may be the basal courses of a 13th-century undercroft. A stone-lined pit within the structure (and probably contemporary with it) yielded an almost complete Saintonge green-glazed jug, and most of a South Leinster vessel.
To the south-east of the 'undercroft', a deep stone-lined pit was uncovered. This was either a cellar or remains of a projecting turret that once gave access to the upper floor.
A later stone structure, built into the west face of the 'undercroft', is a kiln.
City Centre Development, High Street, Waterford
