1996:244 - LIMERICK: Exchange Street, Limerick

The condition attached to planning permission only provided for the archaeological monitoring of all underground works.

However, it soon became apparent, during the monitoring of the digging of foundations, that the site warranted an archaeological assessment prior to the commencement of any development works. The site was located in the heart of medieval Limerick. Exchange Street extends at right angles to Nicholas Street, the main medieval street in Limerick. Following consultations with the OPW, it was decided that monitoring was not sufficient and that the site should be tested in advance of the construction of townhouses.

A number of the test-trenches contained large quantities of finds of medieval date. The material, however, was out of context, and the presence of post-medieval finds in the same layers as the medieval pottery sherds indicated that much of the material was redeposited in the post-medieval period. The redeposited material sealed a paved street and a well. The paved area occurred between 1.6m and 1.7m below modern ground level. The well, although predominantly built of limestone, contained some eighteenth-century red and yellow brick, indicating that it was in use during the post-medieval period. The isolated fragments of brick may have been used in repair works on the well and therefore cannot be of help in securing a date for its construction, and no finds were recovered.

Rich organic deposits were found on the part of the site nearest to Nicholas Street, but it was not possible, owing to the restrictive timeframe, to excavate them. However, the deposits were protected, as much as possible, from development works.

1 Jervis Place, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary