1997:056 - BISHOPSGATE, Coleraine, Derry

An archaeological assessment was carried out in advance of a proposed redevelopment during several weeks in September and October 1997. The area under investigation is thought to be close to the site of a 13th-century Dominican friary, with secular use being made of the buildings during the 17th century, as well as being within the 17th-century town defences. A series of five trenches were excavated to assess the extent and nature of archaeological deposits in the area. A machine was employed to remove the modern overburden; all further excavation was by hand.

Trenches 1, 2 and 3 were sited within a disused garage and measured 32m x 2m, 21m x 2m and 11m x 2m respectively. All were orientated roughly north-east/south-west.

The north-east portion of Trench 1 had been scarped at some stage in the past. No archaeological remains were uncovered in that area of the trench, but the truncated remains of a stone wall were found to the south-west, sealed by a build-up of 17th-century demolition material, 'garden soil' and modern overburden. A series of three postholes were excavated, associated with the wall.

Trench 2 contained the greatest amount of archaeological material. Here, a more substantial wall of medieval date was uncovered. It was constructed of large, roughly faced stones, bonded with mortar, with a rubble core of smaller stones. A metalled surface of tightly packed small stones was found in association with the eastern face of the wall. The stones were set into a greyish clay layer which, when removed, revealed a spread of larger stones. Excavation was halted at this level for health and safety reasons. Several sherds of medieval pottery of 13th/14th-century date were recovered in association with the wall, suggesting a medieval date for its construction. Nearby a stone-lined rubbish pit containing large amounts of 17th- and 18th-century artefacts was found.

Towards the north-east a corner of a stone building, uncovered during removal of the concrete ground slabs, was found to be constructed over an earlier stone structure. While post-medieval in date, it is possible that they are the remains of buildings which fronted onto Hanover Place and which are illustrated in John Claudius Beresford's The Book of Coleraine, compiled in 1816.

The possible remains of a linear feature were identified in Trench 3. Spillage of a large quantity of oil in the area of the trench prevented hand-excavation, but it is possible that the linear feature is part of the ditch uncovered in Trench 5.

Trench 4 was located in a small courtyard, measured approximately 5m x 2m and was aligned roughly east-west. The archaeological remains within the area of this trench had been heavily disturbed but evidence of an early wall structure of uncertain date was recovered.

Trench 5 was located in another small courtyard area. It measured 4m x 2m and was aligned roughly east-west. Here part of a subsoil-cut ditch was found, extending beyond the limit of excavation in a north-south direction. The ditch fill contained medieval and 17th-century pottery. Almost certainly this ditch is that indicated on some of the early 17th-century maps of Coleraine. It is possible that it represents the original precinct boundary of the friary, which was kept open over a period of time and would account for the combination of medieval and 17th-century pottery. Given its representation on the 17th-century maps, it is suggested that it would originally have been far more substantial and significant and has over time been quite heavily truncated.

As a consequence of the findings from this assessment, full-scale archaeological excavation will take place during 1998.

Westlink Enterprise Centre, Belfast