1995:184 - LIMERICK: 36–39 Nicholas St./1–3 Peter St., Limerick

Further work continued on this site in advance of development proposals. A total of eight cuttings were opened in two stages: five in February and three in December following the demolition of Nos 38/39 Nicholas St. Three of these were located in the plot behind Nos 36/37 defined by the two side walls of the late medieval house (Excavations 1994, 58). One of the cuttings revealed evidence of the dome of a possible undercroft. Owing to the depth of the fill to the east or behind this structure, further work to expose it was suspended until recently.

In December 2m of fill, which consisted mainly of sand, were removed to expose the end wall of the undercroft. Although only the central portion was revealed, it presumably extends the full width of the plot, 7m, and consists of an arch which has been blocked with a mixture of stone and brick. An assemblage of pottery recovered at the base of the sand fill suggests that the blocking and fill occurred in the late 18th/early 19th century. Following this a new stone single-storey house, with its long axis lying across the site, was constructed at the rear of the plot. Incorporated into this were some masonry fragments which clearly had been robbed from the earlier house. It is hoped that access to the undercroft can be gained following further removal of fill, propping of voussoirs and removal of the blocking. It is clear that a portion of the chamber survives at the east end, but the vault at the west end has been damaged by the modern houses.

On the other plot, Nos 38/39, the test-cuttings showed that there was a considerable depth of late fill also. Only in one, located at the east end, was there evidence of an archaeological deposit. This was at a depth of 1.9m and was a soft dark deposit with animal bone, oyster shell, fibrous matter and charcoal. Two sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from this.

Planning Dept., City Hall, Limerick