County: Kerry Site name: OLD RECTORY, Ashe Street, Tralee
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 96E0206
Author: Martin Byrne
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 483675m, N 614553m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.270355, -9.704423
An archaeological evaluation at a proposed housing development site was undertaken on 22 and 23 July 1996 in compliance with a condition of planning. The site is located in the immediate vicinity of the medieval parish church of St John and, according to the county archaeologist, Michael Connolly (pers. comm.), there was evidence to suggest that a wall, speculated to be the town wall, might run through the site.
A number of trenches, with a combined length of 122.5m, were excavated by machine in order to determine the nature and extent of any archaeological features or deposits that might exist within the confines of the site. The nature of all but one of the layers encountered represented efforts to ‘level up’ and consolidate the site. The basal layer above the ‘natural’ was the only undisturbed layer and was uncovered in all the trenches. This layer, which consisted of a moderately loose dark brown silty clay with moderate amounts of pebbles and cobbles randomly dispersed throughout, probably represents the original ground surface. A number of wall foundations and a layer of cobbling were encountered, all of which were associated with the former rectory building. Furthermore, a linear soakaway was uncovered which was probably associated with the formal garden attached to the rectory.
No stratigraphy or finds of archaeological interest were uncovered; no further archaeological work was deemed necessary.
39 Kerdiff Park, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare
