County: Cork Site name: YOUGHAL: 59 South Main Street/Quay Lane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 67:29 Licence number: 98E0605
Author: Paul Stevens for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Historic town
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 610497m, N 577960m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.953633, -7.847275
An archaeological assessment and engineering trial boring took place in March 1999 before development of a site at the northern end of the medieval Base Town, close to the Southgate occupied by the 18th-century clock tower (SMR 67:29/011). The site is bordered to the south by Quay Lane, which contains Cromwell's Arch, and the site of the Watergate (SMR 67:029/12) and the courthouse (SMR 67:45) to the east. The rear of the site was subject to a previous archaeological inspection by Catryn Power, in 1993, which revealed a depth of 0.46m of topsoil on top of masonry of potential medieval date.
Three linear test-trenches were opened across the site, which revealed archaeological deposits containing medieval pottery, at a depth of 0.4–0.6m to 2–2.55m below present ground level. This appeared to represent a deliberate ground raising to avoid high floodwater and was sealed to the front of the site by a possibly medieval clay floor. Waterlogged peat deposits were also noted from boreholes at a depth of 2m towards the rear of the site on top of estuarine mud, confirming the site's location across the medieval waterfront. Further work was recommended.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
