1995:091 - DUBLIN: National College of Art and Design, Thomas St./Oliver Bond St./John's Lane/John's St., Dublin

The site lies within the campus of the National College of Art and Design which occupies the old premises of the Power's Distillery. It is located just outside the medieval walled city in the western suburb which was developed extensively by the 13th century. The site is bounded on the north by Oliver Bond St. (a street known as 'Crockers Lane' or 'Potter's Lane' in the medieval period), and on the south and east by John's Lane and John's St. West respectively. The latter streets are named after the medieval hospital of St John the Baptist, the site of which lies to the south-east of the site. The boundary of the hospital precinct is reflected in the modern street pattern of both John's Lane and John St. West.

In addition, a branch of the medieval watercourse known as 'Colman's Brook' is thought to extend along the eastern portion of the site. The documentary sources record the presence of at least three mills along the line of the watercourse although their exact location is not known.

A total of nine trenches and three test-pits were excavated mechanically under the supervision of Linzi Simpson. The site was divided into two different levels, an upper level at the southern end with a steep drop of 4m at the northern end. A large wall, orientated east-west, divided the two levels, which represented a natural drop in ground level towards the river.

At the southern end the trenches revealed a c. 3m deposit of cellar rubble which had caused extensive damage to the underlying layers. At the west side several of the cellar walls were still in situ. However, the testing did locate an extensive orange gravel deposit, 0.4–0.5m in depth, suggesting the presence of some form of watercourse in this section of the site.

At the northern end of the site, in the reduced area, there was extensive disturbance in the form of a solid concrete layer associated with deep cement/concrete pad foundations. In addition, there was a 2.5–3m deposit of cellar rubble with several cellar walls still in situ.

However, the testing did reveal a deposit of black silty organic material at the north-east side of the site, probably a continuation of the watercourse further south. The deposit contained cockle-shell and animal bone and was possibly medieval in date. On the west side of the site the archaeological layer was a friable green 'garden soil' layer.

Two walls, which were also possibly medieval in date, were located beneath cellar walls at the northern end of the site. Both were orientated north-south although not directly associated with each other. The northernmost, which lay 5.6m south of the northern boundary, was very badly damaged but originally had been massive in size. It was constructed of uncut limestone, measuring 1m square, and mortared with a yellow crumbly mortar. It was associated with a wet gravel deposit, which was probably part of the watercourse.

The walls may have formed part of a medieval mill located on the corner of Oliver Bond St. and John's St. West. The mill known as 'Mullinahack' was in the vicinity, and John Rocque's map of Dublin, dated 1756, records this section of Oliver Bond St. as Mullinahack.

Rath House, Ferndale Rd, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin