1996:270 - DROGHEDA: Baker Building, Harpurs Lane, Louth

Archaeological excavation of a proposed apartment development at the Baker Building, Harpurs Lane, Drogheda, was carried out in July 1996. The actual site fronts on to Bachelor's Lane, which was first mentioned in the medieval period in 1313, when it was called Upper Lane to friars minor.

Four areas were excavated inside the building where it was considered the greatest disturbance would take place. Significant medieval deposits existed on this site directly below the concrete surface and for the most part have not been disturbed.

At the south end of the site two medieval stone walls were uncovered not far below ground level. One consisted of limestone rubble, 0.5m wide, and extended east-west along the width of the building. The other, extending north-south, was uncovered at the east end of the building; it was exposed at a depth of 0.93m and would appear to be of medieval date.

Further north a second area was excavated near the west wall of the building. After the removal of 0.4m of concrete, archaeological deposits were exposed. A layer of dark brown clay exposed along the western side of this cutting contained sherds of thirteenth-century pottery. It sealed everything below it, including a probable burgage wall running north-south and an area of cobbles to the west. The wall extended northwards for the entire length of the building as far as Bachelor's Lane. The cobbled surface to the west may indicate that Harpurs Lane was originally wider than it is at present. To the east of the wall a mortar surface was exposed, as well as a hearth and a pit containing shell, stones and charcoal. The burgage wall is of thirteenth-century date.

A third area was excavated immediately north of this. Two post-medieval pits were evident in this area, one along the west wall of the building and the other along the east wall. At the centre of the cutting a fan-shaped medieval kiln with cobbled floor was evident.

The northernmost area of the building revealed evidence for the square foundations of a kiln of medieval date, which continued in use into the post-medieval period. In the northeast corner of the building a black thirteenth-century layer sealed a layer of cobbles. Four post-holes, 0.5m deep, were exposed directly beneath the cobbled surface.

Pottery sherds recovered from the site, including Saintonge, Leinster cooking ware, English pottery and local wares, were indicative of thirteenth/fourteenth-century dates. However, although these deposits survived to a depth of 1m below the surface, the ground below this was made up, probably in the thirteenth century. The made-up ground, which survived for a further depth of 2m, was waterlogged and contained sherds of thirteenth-century pottery. Presumably the river flooded this part of the town in the early medieval period, necessitating the build-up of ground in the thirteenth century.

30 Laurence St., Drogheda, Co. Louth