1997:624 - WICKLOW: South Quay/The Mall, Wicklow

The site, which lies on the south side of South Quay and backs onto The Mall, is to be developed in two phases. At present it is laid out in three areas: the Lower Yard, the Upper Yard and the original retail building. Only the Phase I area (the Lower Yard) was examined by a test-trench excavated through the long axis of the proposed Phase I development footprint (opened as four separate pits owing to collapse and the instability of the party wall on the west side of the site). The trench revealed that the lower yard had originally been built on, and that the foundations for the building had been cut into the boulder clay subsoil. The material revealed indicates that whatever slope existed in this location in the past has been removed and the underlying sterile soils have been cut into repeatedly for both building and service laying. No soils of archaeological consequence were noted.

The possibility that some form of early riverfront wall or other structure might exist in this location was borne in mind in advance of the test-trenching, and remains were sought in the profiles exposed. No trace of any structure of this sort was revealed nor was there any evidence that the shoreline had extended as far as this side of the quay; the old ground level had been removed. It would appear, therefore, that if an early quayfront ever existed in this area, the river shoreline may have been located beneath the present street.

It is of interest that an assessment by James Eogan at the Bridge Tavern on South Quay (Excavations 1997, No. 622), like the site investigated here, yielded no evidence for medieval deposits. However, excavations at Wentworth Place and Church Street, also by James Eogan (Excavations 1997, Nos 619 and 621), have produced evidence for medieval activity.

Rath House, Ferndale Road, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin