County: Louth Site name: DROGHEDA: 3–4 Bessexwell Lane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 97E0455
Author: Rosanne Meenan
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 709027m, N 775317m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.716130, -6.348228
The development site, at the west end of Bessexwell Lane, is known to have existed at the beginning of the 14th century (Bradley 127), when it was recorded as the 'lane to the Friars minor', i.e. the Franciscan friary that is known to have been built east of Mayoralty Street. There is also a record of a property plot owned by Martin Johan in 1363 (ibid. 113) immediately to the west of the development site.
Three test-trenches were dug following demolition of the 19th-century buildings that stood on the site. These buildings do not seem to have caused disturbance to the underlying material.
A layer of mixed brown gravel, sand and clay underlay the thin layer of demolition rubble. Deposits of ash could also be seen within it. This layer was 1.5–1.6m deep. In Trench 1 was evidence of a layer of cobbles within the layer. No finds were seen in this material, but it was probably post-medieval in date.
The underlying layer of mottled grey, brown and black clay was c. 2m deep. It was very plastic in texture and was probably naturally deposited by the river. It also contained small lenses of black vegetable material. There was evidence to suggest a wattle fence within it. The deposit resembled other riverine deposits exposed in medieval excavations in Dublin and elsewhere. Natural, grey-blue sand lay underneath.
No evidence of structures was exposed.
Reference:
Bradley, J. 1978: The topography and layout of medieval Drogheda. Co. Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal 19 (2), 98–127.
Roestown, Drumree, Co. Meath
