1997:576 - WATERFORD: Christchurch, Waterford

The restoration of the 18th-century cathedral is currently in progress. This involves re-roofing elements of the church and spire to arrest the increasing damp in the plaster, ceiling and walls. Conservation of the 18th-century plasterwork is currently in progress. No trace of the medieval cathedral is evident above ground, but a medieval column (dated to the early 13th century) is located under the present granite floor (in a floor cavity) in the south aisle close to the western doorway. The archaeological monitoring arose because of a proposal to open the cavity in the floor to display the column.

Waterford was founded by the Vikings in 914 when they established a base or longphort at the confluence of John’s River and the River Suir. Its location at the south-eastern corner of Ireland at the mouth of the Suir and only five miles from its confluence with the rivers Nore and Barrow led to its growth and development into the Anglo-Norman period.

Malchus was consecrated as the first bishop of Waterford in 1096. We can assume that a cathedral was built as the focal point for the see of Waterford from at least this date. The cathedral was located on the present site of the Church of Ireland cathedral (Christ Church). After the synod of Kells in 1152, cathedrals were built in the main Norse cities (Dublin, Waterford and Limerick). This 12th-century cathedral was enlarged by the Anglo-Normans, who evidently felt the need for a greater edifice to symbolise their more sophisticated and powerful culture. The medieval cathedral was completely demolished in 1770 by the then bishop, who, alarmed by falling masonry within the medieval structure, brought about the complete redevelopment of the church. The new church (18th-century) was designed by a local architect, John Roberts.

The floor cavity in which the pillar survives is rectangular and measures 3.5m east–west, 2.8m north–south, and 1.8m deep. The sandstone medieval column is almost centrally located in the cavity and is 1.72m high and 2.55m in diameter. It consists of a diamond-shaped pillar with arched arcading with deep hollows and rolls. The walls lining the basement cavity all date from the 18th century and act as retaining walls around the feature; however, the southern wall, in contrast to the others, is unfaced and poorly built. The granite floor of the present church above the cavity rests on wrought-iron beams, which were removed as part of the monitoring. A large quantity of loose rubble masonry filled the base of the floor cavity. This was removed and revealed a mortared floor on which the pillar stood. No floor tiles or paving survived above the mortared surface and no further excavation took place.

Rath House, Ferndale Road, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin