County: Wexford Site name: WEXFORD: Gasworks, Trinity St.
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 95E0037
Author: Cia McConway, ADS Ltd
Site type: Quarry
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 705228m, N 621477m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.334798, -6.455940
A proposed new development was to occupy the site of the old town gasworks at Trinity St., Wexford. While it was felt that the original gasworks tank and building had already obliterated all archaeology along the old forecourt, the site encroached onto an area of landscaped scrub and trees which surrounded the present-day army barracks. There has been a suggestion that this steeply sloped area was the remains of the old town defensive bank.
Along the eastern area of the site, a depth of 0.3m of hardcore and concrete was to overlie the present ground level. It was noted that this was a grey/orange boulder clay and the buildings were to be constructed on a rafter foundation. The eastern area of the site was not tested as it was not to undergo any further ground reduction or trench-cutting.
The southern area of the site had already been badly disturbed with a series of sewage-pipes butting into the natural.
A total of four long slit-trenches were mechanically opened, cutting through the sloped area of the site. It was soon discovered that the bulk of the slope was composed of orange and grey sands and boulder clays deposited here naturally by the sea, which had at one stage encroached this far inland. These natural clays and sands had been quarried, presumably for building materials, and the resulting scarping created a steep banked effect. At a later stage, from the 19th century onwards, a dumped and mixed material was placed onto the site to build up and landscape the slope. There was no evidence of the town bank/defences.
Powerhouse, Pigeon House Harbour, Dublin 4
