1995:200 - DROGHEDA: 30 Peter St., Louth

Archaeological monitoring was carried out in November 1995 on a proposed commercial development in Peter St., Drogheda. The site was previously occupied by a four-storey building which was reduced to ground level. Foundation trenches for the new building were excavated by hand alongside the line of the previous foundations. The entire southern half of the site was disturbed by drains and the western part of the site was destroyed by a former basement which cut into the natural gravels. The only area where archaeological deposits were present was towards the east end of the building, where a short section of a medieval wall measuring 0.55m wide and 5m long was uncovered running easterly from the street. This wall was cut by the basement and had its foundations in the natural boulder clay, where a distinct cut was visible. Against the south side of the wall was a 0.3m-thick deposit of brown loam containing shell and early medieval pottery sherds. It is obvious that the medieval wall and associated layer continue towards the eastern half of the site, but this area was not disturbed during the development. The proximity of this wall to the northern boundary wall of the site, together with the fact that it is parallel to it, may indicate that the wall is a boundary wall for a medieval burgage plot.

30 Laurence St., Drogheda, Co. Louth