County: Dublin Site name: DUBLIN: Arran Quay
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 93E0074
Author: Linzi Simpson
Site type: Riverine revetment
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 714768m, N 734277m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.346255, -6.276340
A rescue excavation at Arran Quay from 21st May to 1st June exposed a substantial timber revetment, over 12m in length, running parallel with Hammond Lane. However, the archaeological layer was represented by only 0.6m of silt sitting on undisturbed river gravels. The revetment formed the southern wall of a strong water-course lying to the north and was not associated with the early shore-line of the river Liffey. It probably represents the race of a mill situated close to the western side of the bridge which spanned the Liffey at the north-west corner of the city. Documentary sources do record a 'mill near the bridge' but this was clearly on the southern side of the Liffey. It may represent an undocumented mill associated with St Saviour's Priory.
The revetment
The revetment was dated by dendrochronology to the mid-1240s. It was cut into a series of accumulated organic deposits which had been previously dumped probably to re-claim the area. Only 2.18m of the base-plate was still in situ. It was comprised of two oak beams scarfed together with a series of through mortises, several with uprights still in position. A section of over-lapping planking survived to a height of 0.5m, held in place by organic deposits dumped in behind. The base-plate was wedged into position by a series of posts driven deep into the underlying river-gravel.
The braces
The revetment was unusual in type in that it was braced both front and back. The northern braces, of which eight survived, were comprised of a series of small timbers, acting as subsidiary base-plates and lying perpendicular to the main base-plate. These supported a cross-timber at an angle of 45 degrees which was pegged securely into the river gravel at the base. The southern braces, of which nine survived, were less elaborate than the northern examples and designed to take less pressure. These consisted of cross-timbers, again at angles of 45 degrees, but with no subsidiary base-plates. They corresponded, in position, to the northern braces.
The finds
The reclamation layers and the silts which began to accumulate at the base of the revetment produced a good sample of imported and locally made pottery as well as several roof-tiles. Leather finds included several shoes and a finely decorated scabbard.
45 Wyattville Pk., Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin
