1998:328 - NAAS: Abbey Street/Canal Street, Kildare

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken at a proposed development site at Abbey Street/Canal Street, Naas, Co. Kildare, on 18–19 May 1998. The work was carried out in compliance with a condition of the grant of planning in relation to a mixed apartment and office development.The development lies within the zone of archaeological potential of Naas, and it is postulated that a portion of the town defences ran through part of the site. Furthermore, it is generally believed that a friary existed at or near the junction formed by Canal Street and Abbey Street, near where human skeletal material was uncovered by Martin Reid in 1995 (Excavations 1995, 47, 95E0042). Patricia Lynch (Excavations 1996, 53, 96E0011) recovered similar material from Abbey Street during 1996.

Twelve test-trenches were opened with the use of a mechanical excavator. Part of the site fronting onto the canal had recently served as a builder's machinery yard, and evidence of the surface of such was uncovered during testing. Furthermore, there were indications that the levels of this area of the site may have been raised at some time in the past, possibly linked with construction works associated with the canal from 1786 to 1789. A wet, organic material uncovered in this general area of the site may indicate that the area was generally waterlogged in antiquity. Evidence of such waterlogging still exists in lands beyond the site of the Dominican Priory to the north of the development and downslope from the motte. This material produced a number of sherds of pottery, which generally date to the latter half of the 18th and the 19th century, as well as a number of undatable clay pipe stems. One sherd of medieval pottery was also recovered from this material.

A wall on the western side of the Abbey Street plot is believed to preserve the line of the medieval town wall. However, no evidence of such was revealed, with the present wall, which has a plinth foundation, most likely dating to the mid- to late 18th century, as the material upon which it is constructed produced pottery and clay pipe fragments that generally date to this period.

In terms of topography the natural subsoil sloped gently down to the west in the lower area of the site. A similar but much steeper gradient was noted on the northern quarter of the site. Furthermore, the natural subsoil was found to be of differing materials, with that found in the northern quarter indicative of the gravel ridge upon which the medieval town was constructed.

No evidence of a town wall, enclosing earthen bank, or structures and burials associated with the Dominican(?) Priory was uncovered. It is concluded that, given the results from this and other sites, the priory is most likely situated between Abbey Street and the eastern boundary of the development site, most of which lies within the present Telecom Éireann complex. Furthermore, it is possible that the slope of the gravel ridge formed part of a defensive system, below and beyond which was soft, wet ground.

39 Kerdiff Park, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare