1994:077 - DUBLIN: Carnegie Trust Building, 21–25 Lord Edward St., Dublin

The site, owned by the Eastern Health Board, is situated on the southern side of the street, between the Dublin Corporation Rates Office (formerly Newcomen Bank) and the recently constructed 'Castlegate' apartment complex. It is proposed to renovate and alter the existing building. This work will include the provision of a fire escape stairs on either end of the building. Outline planning permission was granted by Dublin Corporation in May 1994, subject to a number of conditions, one of which dealt specifically with the archaeological potential of the site.

Accordingly, two test pits were excavated by hand on June 11 and 14, 1994, to the west and east of the existing building in order to evaluate the surface level of undisturbed archaeological deposits. The trenches measured 1m x 1m and 1.2m x 1m respectively. There was evidence from both test pits that the building was constructed with a 'stepped' foundation which had caused extensive disturbance (up to 1.8m in depth) to archaeological deposits when it was inserted in the 1920s. As a consequence the surface level of undisturbed archaeological deposits are located at 8.69m OD and 8.72m OD respectively. It is probable, however, that this degree of disturbance is only confined to the area of the foundations and that the level of undisturbed archaeology is actually higher in other areas across the site (see No. 59, 20-25 Castle St., Excavations 1994, for comparative levels for the rear of the site).

19 Monread Gdns., Naas, Co. Kildare