1997:302 - KILKENNY: New Building Lane, Kilkenny

An archaeological assessment and an architectural survey of the upstanding structures, with particular emphasis on two Tudor buildings which border the site along its eastern boundary, within a proposed development on the northern side of New Building Lane were undertaken in response to a formal request for additional information by Kilkenny Corporation, after the submission of a planning application for the site. The architectural survey was carried out by Edmond O’Donovan from 3 to 6 June 1997, and the archaeological assessment was undertaken by the writer on 5 June 1997.

Five test-trenches were mechanically excavated across the site and an exposed soil profile was also examined from a vertical section at the western perimeter of the site. Deep deposits of garden soil were revealed in the western portion of the site (Trenches 1, 2, 3 and 6), formerly used as orchards and gardens. The deposits ranged in depth from 1m to 2.5m and included small quantities of butchered animal bone, occasional clay pipe fragments (17th/18th-century varieties) and sherds of post-medieval pottery. The use of this area for orchards and gardens has remained relatively unchanged since the 18th century (Rocque’s map of 1758 indicates the existence of two orchards on the site). The results of the test-trenching suggest that no significant soils of pre-18th-century date survive within the garden area and it may be concluded that, even though the orchards were inside the town walls, no domestic medieval habitation or dumping of domestic refuse occurred in this area.

Test-trenching on the eastern side of the site (Trenches 4 and 5) revealed no occupation or settlement-related soils. However, a west-east-running section of wall was uncovered which can be directly related to Tudor House No. 2 (lying to the east) both on plan and by scar walls in the gable end of the above building. The section of wall was located in the south-facing section of Trench 4. The wall was 1.1m deep/high and was constructed of limestone blocks and short flat slabs, bonded with lime mortar. Occasional fragments of red brick were visible within the wall matrix. An east-west-running French drain, c. 0.25m high (partly collapsed), was uncovered 0.95m south of the wall, lying 0.5m below ground level. The drain was well constructed of limestone slabs and blocks and was filled with a black/dark brown soil containing post-medieval finds, including the bone handle of a hairbrush. The overburden sealing the drain (south) and the extant wall (north) consisted of red brick rubble mixed with garden soil and grey sand.

Remains from Trench 5 consisted of a neatly arranged cobbled surface utilising water-worn stones. The absence of archaeological soils in the eastern area of the site is not significant as there is a possibility that further subsurface remains (Tudor wall foundations of the late 16th to early 17th century) survive below the New Building Lane frontage.

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