1996:127 - ISLANDBRIDGE: 765 South Circular Road, Dublin

Archaeological test excavation was undertaken in advance of a proposed extension to the existing premises at 765 South Circular Road, Islandbridge, Dublin 8, in July 1996. The site is located immediately west of Sarah or Kilmainham Bridge on the north bank of the River Liffey. The existing premises occupies the site of a nineteenth-century flour mill, but there may have been a mill here since the medieval period.

The site measures 10.8m east-west by 3.7m north-south and forms part of an open concrete yard, delimited by concrete walling at the north and east. There is a 4.5m fall to a landscaped area on the riverbank at the north. A single trial-trench (10.15m east-west by 1m north-south) was mechanically excavated to a depth of 1.9m. The ground was composed of a series of modern ruble fills. The earliest stratigraphic features were two wall foundations, extending north–south, which were located the base of the trench. The foundations appear to be associated with the flour mills and probably date from the nineteenth century. The remains of two brick floors, which postdate the wall foundations, were also located. No archaeological deposits or features were encountered. The excavated area is reclaimed land which has been raised to a considerable height above the banks of the River Liffey.

20–21 Main St., Portlaoise, Co. Laois