County: Galway Site name: GALWAY: 1 Mainguard St.
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 94:100 Licence number: 95E0245
Author: Paul Stevens, Archaeological Services Ltd
Site type: House - 16th/17th century
Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)
ITM: E 529765m, N 725229m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.272739, -9.052979
Monitoring was carried out on renovations to the ground and first floor of No. 1 Mainguard St., Galway, from 16 October to 13 November. The work was funded by the developer and carried out by the Archaeological Services Unit, UCG, as a requirement for planning permission.
The property is a three-storey town house situated at the junction of Mainguard St. and High St., overlooking St Nicholas's Collegiate Church. It appears on the 1651 Pictorial Map of Galway and the 1610 Speed Map of Galway. The exterior facade of the property contains three drip-mouldings, a waterspout and the jambs of a stone doorway.
Features revealed during renovations of the first floor included a late 16th/early 17th-century decorated stone fireplace of a type commonly found in Galway. The fireplace was in situ but had undergone alterations. These included the removal of part of the jambs and remodelling. The western jamb was partly refaced in brick, leaving most of the stonework in situ but concealed. The eastern jamb-bearer and stop were removed and replaced with an inverted base stone. The entire jamb was moved forward to be flush with the mantle, and the lintel was removed. There was no inscription on the keystone suggesting a precise date.
Four oak floor-beams were revealed in the first floor. Two were flush with the wall, supported by a corbel and probably reused. All ran parallel to the gable wall and were notched with some variation; only one was in situ for certain.
A single in situ oak floor-beam remained in the second floor. This was chamfered and notched. Several later oak joists were attached to it.
In conclusion, the fabric of the building was largely altered, especially the flooring. However, the basic post-medieval character of the house remains intact. All features discovered were preserved and part of the fireplace remains exposed and can be seen on the first floor of the Evergreen shop.
Oranmore Industrial Park, Claregalway Rd, Oranmore, Co. Galway
