County: Galway Site name: TUAM: Townparks
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 29:199 Licence number: —
Author: Anne Connolly, c/o Archaeological Services Unit, University College Galway
Site type: Kiln - pottery
Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)
ITM: E 543704m, N 752338m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.517997, -8.848876
A watching brief, funded by Galway County Council commenced on 14th October 1992 in Tuam Co. Galway, and continued into 1993. It followed the line of the proposed sewerage pipe through 3 archaeologically-sensitive areas in the town, in advance of the actual pipe laying.
For the most part there were no finds of an archaeological nature. The areas highlighted as being sensitive had suffered much disturbance as a result of services installation and land reclamation.
In the area immediately north of Gilligans Arch, off High St a post-medieval pottery kiln was uncovered. The kiln was constructed of hand-made red brick, with a small, retaining wall of limestone at its southern end. It survives to a maximum height of 0.65m and measures 3.9m north-south and 1.74m east-west The proximity of the kiln to the arch and more especially, to the wall on the west side of it, made it impossible to excavate completely, though the east side of the kiln was thoroughly investigated.
Excavations revealed the kiln wall was only 200mm thick and there was redeposited clay and stones packed against it on the east side. This suggests the surviving portion of the kiln was built into the old ground surface. Excavation under the kiln show that its northern portion was built directly onto bedrock.
The kiln was removed completely, brick by brick, and it is hoped to reconstruct it in the grounds of the Mill Museum, Tuam.
