County: Wicklow Site name: IRISHTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 94E0152
Author: Linzi Simpson
Site type: Industrial site
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 726823m, N 716330m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.182300, -6.102542
The site, which was being developed as an access road in an industrial estate, was walked by the writer while topsoil was being stripped. A large spread of burnt material with small fragments of iron was noted and a small excavation was subsequently carried out between September 27–30. It was funded by the developer.
The site originally formed part of the Killruddery Demesne which was held by the monks of St Thomas's Abbey in the medieval period. However, as the placename suggests, there was an early church which was located close to Killruddery House, to the south-east of the site. The discovery of skeletons near the house in the early 19th century indicates the presence of a graveyard.
A red-brick house, which had been recently demolished, originally lay to the north-west of the site. In addition, a small granite-faced well, which was identified by Ms C. Walsh, lay less than 2m to the east of the site. This has since been removed.
The excavation measured 15m north-south by 12m east-west with over 0.3m of material removed. A large cobbled area was exposed, measuring 9m north-south by 6m east-west. The surface was laid directly on a bed of yellow clay, 0.2m in depth, which overlay boulder clay. At the northern end, however, the surface had been severely truncated. The cobbles were interpreted as representing a substantial laneway or road associated with Killruddery Farm. The pottery finds indicates that it was out of use by the late 17th century.
A second phase of activity was identified after the laneway went out of use. The northern end of the surface was removed and the clay surface was used as a small metal-working area. Two large circular pits, both roughly 2.5m in diameter and 0.3m in depth, were located, filled with fire-shattered granite boulders and a black cinder deposit. A similar deposit was spread out over the clay. This produced a variety of iron objects, including rivets, nails, and large bolts.
Two areas of fire-reddened clay were also exposed both measuring 1.2m long by 0.5m wide. These may have represented the site of some form of portable hearth since no hearth was located in situ. The finds of iron objects suggest the metal-working process may have involved melting down iron. The well, less than 2m to the east, was probably associated with this activity.
The final phase was represented by a deposit of hard, compact, sticky boulder clay which covered the entire area. This was probably carried out when the red-brick house was under construction.
45 Wyattville Place, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin
