1997:353 - LIMERICK: King John's Castle, Limerick

Further archaeological excavation was conducted between January and July 1997 along the southern side of the castle in relation to the proposed ‘Castle Lane’ development. No excavation or conservation took place in the castle yard.

Cutting 3, the site of the original excavation in Castle Lane from 1995, was backfilled. Several new cuttings were opened to find out more about the area external to the castle before its large-scale redevelopment got under way.

The first phase of investigation was carried out during January–February 1997. Cutting 3A was placed next to the southern curtain-wall towards the western limit of the site. Excavation failed to uncover any features of medieval date. The earliest feature was the continuation of a retaining wall first encountered at the beginning of 1996 in Cutting 3, and dating from c. 1700.

Cutting 3B was established at the south-western corner of the site. Part of the southern side of the primary castle ditch was exposed, infilled with homogeneous dark grey clay. There was evidence of pit-digging from the 18th century, along with a cobbled stone surface and wall of later date.

Cutting 3C was located on the eastern side of the site, opposite the castle bastion. Some of the infill of a recut version of the castle ditch dating from c. 1610 was excavated at the western end of the cutting. In contrast, the eastern half of the cutting had considerable archaeological potential as it was the first attempt to examine ground immediately outside the line of the castle ditch. The western end of the mud floor of an ancillary building of possible early 13th-century date was excavated, and part of the outline of an earlier sunken-featured structure (SFS 6) was identified. There were also several pits of medieval date. Much of the material was of post-medieval origin, including a number of limestone foundations, cobblestone surfaces, etc.

The second phase of work took place during April–May 1997. Further investigation at the eastern end of Cutting 3C was carried out. The earliest feature was a fairly substantial ditch aligned north-north-west/south-south-east, which must pre-date the start of urbanised settlement in Limerick as we understand it. Most of the outline of SFS 6 was defined. This was located directly over the remains of the ditch. It turned out to be a small building measuring c. 5m by 3m, with a floor level cut 0.4–0.6m into the substratum. It was therefore smaller and shallower than SFSs 1–5, excavated within the limits of the castle. In addition, there was plenty of post-medieval activity, including evidence for metalworking, perhaps in the later 17th century.

Cutting 3D was opened along the northern margin of the site. This was a lengthy trench, aligned east–west, intended to accommodate water and sewerage mains connected with the proposed development. Towards the eastern end of the cutting the surface of another mud floor of possible early 13th-century date was revealed. This was cut to the east by a 19th-century cellar. More infilled clay relating to the castle ditch was noted to the west of the floor. The western side of an unusual stone-lined pit of 18th-century date was partly revealed next to the foot of the castle bastion, along with a section of a contemporary stone pavement and a later wall.

Two small cuttings, 3E and 3F, were excavated to establish whether the frontages of Nos 20 and 21 Nicholas Street were cellared. Both properties were found not to be cellared, but disturbance to the archaeological levels was avoided.

The construction phase of the Castle Lane project began in the first half of June. The monitoring of mains trenches, piling and ground-beam work continued up to the end of July. Some additional excavation in Cutting 3D was possible, including the limited sampling of castle ditch deposits of different dates. A little more of the mud floor level was revealed, and a small area excavated to boulder clay. Offset foundation masonry underpinning the southern face of the 17th-century bastion was recorded.

17 Vartry Close, Raheen, Co. Limerick