1996:113 - DUBLIN: Temple Lane/Cecilia Street/Fownes Street Upper, Dublin

This licence refers to the preliminary archaeological assessment of this block, which was later divided into four distinct planning applications/developments. The area tested was bounded by Temple Lane, Cecilia Street and Fownes Street and incorporates the supposed site of the Augustinian Friary of the Holy Trinity. No standing remains of the friary exist on the site, though masonry in some of the exposed heavy walls at the back of Nos 1 and 2 Cecilia Street may be derived from friary buildings; they do not represent remains in situ.

Archaeological assessment of a site on Fownes Street/Crow Street immediately to the south of this area indicated that no archaeological features or soils survived in situ beneath the floors of the 2.8m-deep basements. Archaeological assessment and excavation during redevelopment of the Green Building site at 23–24 Temple Lane/3–4 Crow Street revealed a portion of the friary graveyard along with earlier, pre-friary burials dating to the first quarter of the eleventh century (Excavations 1993, 29).

These preliminary test-trenches included two at the rear of Nos 1 and 2 Cecilia Street and one on the Fownes Street Upper/5–6 Cecilia Street portion of the block. On the basis of the results from the areas tested, it was clear that remains of the friary did survive on the 5–6 Cecilia Street site, but in a very truncated and poorly preserved state. The old ground level had been removed by the insertion of basements, with evidence of reuse of stone derived from the friary buildings.

One substantial east-west wall and archaeological deposits were encountered at the western side of the site. These were thought to be of medieval date, although no finds were retrieved on this occasion. The block has been subject to intensive additional investigation and archaeological excavation under the direction of Linzi Simpson (see EXCAVATIONS 1996, No. 78).

Rath House, Ferndale Rd, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin