County: Dublin Site name: DUBLIN: Ship St.
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 93E0132
Author: Linzi Simpson
Site type: Historic town
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 715232m, N 733821m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.342059, -6.269543
The excavation took place on the south side of the city outside the medieval city wall. It was located on the corner of Bride St. and Ship St. Little in an area initially thought to form part of the city ditch. The Pole Gate, one of the mural city gates, lay to the north with the Pole Mills further east. However, the excavation revealed a succession of structures dating from the 13th century onwards indicating that the site lay outside the perimeter of the city ditch.
The Poddle
At the lowest levels there was evidence of a strong water-course running east-west and probably representing part of the old bed of the river Poddle. The southern extent of the watercourse was defined by two successive strong post and wattle fences which revetted the river gravels and silts. The northern extent lay outside the limit of excavation. A pre-Norman date for the water-course was indicated by the recovery of a small bone trial-piece dated tentatively to the late 10th/early 11th century.
In the late 12th century the Poddle river was re-channelled up Patrick St. where it ran along the base of the city wall, forming a natural moat. This diverted the water from the area around Ship St. Little which must have been dried out to some extent, although it probably always remained wet and damp. Small buildings were then constructed on the site.
Medieval Structures
In all, three levels of buildings, all on a similar line, were located. These were identified through post and wattle walls and distinctive sod floors with trampled surfaces. However, the limitations of the size of the excavation made interpretation of type and function of these structures impossible to determine. The uppermost structure was dated by dendrochronology to 1289+9 (Queen's University, Belfast) and represented a more substantial building than the previous two. The western wall was constructed of timber planking with two scarfed base-plates and a series of uprights at regular intervals. The planking was riveted into position. One large post, possibly a roof-support, was also located in the south-east corner. Also associated with the timber wall were the remains of an extensive stone surface with a sod flooring beneath.
The drain and well
The structures were cut by a stone-lined drain extending east-west and measuring internally 0.4m x 0.33m. This was associated with a stone well 0.8m in diameter, with a barrel on top.
Tanning House
Documentary sources, dating to the late 15th century, describe a 'Tanning house' at the corner of Bride St. and Ship St. Little. The excavation did expose three wooden barrels and part of a timber-lined rectangular pit, possibly representing part of this tanning complex.
The finds
The bulk of the finds were sherds of pottery dating to the Anglo-Norman period and representing a good mix of English and French imported ware and locally made pottery. Other finds include several bronze pins, a bone trial-piece and a small knife-blade.
45 Wyattville Park, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin
