1998:674 - NEW ROSS: Priory Street, Wexford

Test-trenching was carried out at the site of a proposed development in Priory Street, New Ross, on 9 June 1998, in response to a request for further information pending a formal decision on the planning application. The development site lies off Priory Street, within a large green-field area just inside the walled town, and is surrounded on the north, south and west by buildings. That part of the site fronting onto Priory Street is quite level for several metres in from the street, but beyond this point the ground slopes steeply uphill in conformity with the land on either side. It is possible that some levelling of the land along Priory Street took place in the 18th century, when most of the houses in the area appear to have been built.

Three test-trenches were dug by machine in the areas of greatest impact from the development. The results appear to confirm that some reduction of ground levels had already taken place in the area closest to the street. There was a considerable increase in the depth of topsoil towards the rear and on the western side of the site, and the occurrence of animal bone and medieval pottery within the deeper horizons of this topsoil, together with the apparent absence of post-medieval contamination within it, suggests that this area had undergone minimal disturbance. This may indicate that, while no structural remains were uncovered during the course of the archaeological evaluation, medieval or earlier soil horizons that preserve information of archaeological significance may remain undisturbed in parts of the site.

Archaeological monitoring of groundworks associated with the development was recommended.

39 Kerdiff Park, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare