1997:577 - WATERFORD: Conduit Lane/Cathedral Lane, Waterford

It is proposed to redevelop a vacant site as a hotel. Further to recommendations arising from the observation/monitoring of engineering trial-bores/test-trenches by a number of archaeologists, it was considered necessary to undertake comprehensive archaeological testing of the site, which was required as a condition of the planning permission.

Four trial-trenches were opened. The upper c. 1–1.5m of the entire site consisted of rubble of modern origin. A layer of grey-black estuarine silt and clay occurring at a depth of c. 1–1.5m was redeposited in post-medieval times, although it also contained some medieval pottery. The layer was deepest at the south side of the site. The estuarine silts and clays sealed a layer of organic material c. 0.2m deep on the west side of the site. This layer did not contain evidence for structures or occupation, but highly organic material containing straw (probably farmyard manure) was probably dumped in waterlogged ground.

One wall, extending east–west, was built on an offset footing. Although estuarine silts occurred at either side of the wall and there were no positively identified medieval layers associated with it, the possibility exists that the wall is of medieval date. The preservation of the wall within the proposed development was recommended.

The finds of medieval pottery included one sherd of local ware, a spout from a Saintonge green-glazed jug and a sherd of Saintonge ‘checkered’ ware. Post-medieval pottery included North Devon gravel-tempered ware, tin-glazed Iberian and English earthenware, a sherd of Frechen Bartmann (c. 1550–1600) and a sherd of late 18th/19th-century blue transfer ware. A dump of pantiles was discovered in one trench.

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