1998:193 - DUBLIN: 109 Townsend Street, Dublin

Archaeological test excavation was carried out on a development site at 109 Townsend Street, Dublin 2. The site, a single property on the south side of the street, lies towards the eastern end of Lazar's Hill, a gravel ridge that was probably occupied by houses from the 16th century onwards. In 1659 there is a mention of a 'forte' on Lazar's Hill, which de Courcy (The Liffey in Dublin, 1996, 164) suggests was probably on the junction of Lazar's Hill and Sandwith Street. This structure is likely to be the one depicted on Petty's (1654) map as 'Andrew's Folly' and may have been a customs post. The likelihood of uncovering remains of any archaeological significance on this plot was considered slight. The test excavation was carried out in tandem with site clearance.

Subsoil, which comprised a relatively soft, yellow/brown boulder clay, lensed with coarse gravel, was reached at 1.6m below street level. The intervening material was a loose rubble and red brick fill, which probably represents the demolition of the last standing building on the plot. This building had a semi-basement but did not appear to have had a formal flooring.

The foundations of the standing buildings to both sides rest on subsoil.

There was no evidence of any late medieval or post-medieval activity on the plot. A small yard area at the rear of the building was also cleared of soil. The garden soil, averaging 0.75m deep, contained 19th-century crockery sherds, directly overlying subsoil.

There was no trace of any deposits of archaeological interest on the plot.

25a Eaton Square, Terenure, Dublin 6W