County: Derry Site name: BELLAGHY BAWN, Old Town Deer Park
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 37:3 Licence number: —
Author: Declan P. Hurl, Environment Service: Historic Monuments and Buildings, DoE(NI)
Site type: Ringfort - rath and Bawn
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 695231m, N 896291m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.805492, -6.518709
An investigation was undertaken in two rooms of the main house ahead of development activity.
In the east room was revealed a wall footing of rough stones and mortar and a metalled surface, as well as beam slots and a semicircular brick setting within a pit, all possibly associated with an 18th-century phase, as finds included fine bottle glass and an 18th-century wig-curler. Beneath this level of activity were lines of stakeholes and a sizeable pit, as well as the possible edge of a ditch. Sherds of souterrain ware were uncovered.
In the west room, beam slots and an internal wall footing of rough stones and mortar were uncovered. Below that level was the possible edge of a ditch and a truncated bank; sherds of souterrain ware were associated with the lower features.
Further excavations will take place in 1996.
5–33 Hill St., Belfast BT1 2LA
