1997:164 - DUBLIN: 3C/4 South Earl Street, Dublin

Testing was undertaken in July 1997 to provide information in advance of planning permission.

Given the location of the site within 50m of St Thomas's Abbey, it was decided to position two trenches extending north-south and another east-west. The first trench was cut east-west 5.5m from the northern boundary wall. It was positioned here to follow the line of cellar wall which became apparent when the site had been cleared of all vegetation. In the course of cutting this trench another cellar wall was identified 5m from the western boundary wall, extending north-south. Beyond this longitudinal cellar wall the trench was continued for another 7m. The deposits in this trench revealed that there had been repeated dumping of building material to backfill the cellar, and also a number of attempts to consolidate surfaces within this material through the laying of layers of setts or cobbles. These disturbances extended to the base of the trench and cut into the natural deposits.

A second trench was cut north-south at the end of Trench 1. This revealed two more walls extending east-west and a short length of wall extending north-south. The deposits in this trench reflected the stratigraphy identified in Trench 1, including the backfilling of the cellars and the cutting into of the natural deposits. At the end of this trench a small trench (4m long) was cut to follow the second cellar wall which had been uncovered.

A final trench was cut north-south, 3.5m from the western boundary wall. This followed a line of cellar walling on the eastern side and revealed three cellar walls extending east-west (including the east-west wall in Trench 1). Two sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from a disturbed context at the base of this trench. As with the first two trenches, this trench was cut to reveal underlying natural deposits.

32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2