1999:366 - ABBEYLANDS, Clane, Kildare

The site is in the townland of Abbeylands, to the immediate south-east of the modern village of Clane. Within the property is an almost square graveyard within which are the partial extant remains of Clane Abbey, a Franciscan friary established c. 1258. It is likely that the friary was founded by Gerald Fitz-Maurice (Fitzgerald, Lord of Offaly) and, according to Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 245), 'he is said to have been buried in the Friary in 1287'. In 1345 a general chapter, held at the friary, made important decisions about Irish custodies. In 1433 an indulgence was granted as the establishment was in need of repair. However, following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, portions of the friary—including the church chancel and part of the dormitory—were destroyed by order of Lord Leonard Grey, late king's deputy, for the purpose of repairing the king's castle at Maynooth. Fragments of the nave, chancel and south aisle still survive, as does a mutilated effigy said to be of Gerald Fitz-Maurice. In addition, aerial photographs of Clane show a linear cropmark running south from the south-west corner of the graveyard. This has been interpreted as a possible roadway.

An assessment of the site by the writer suggested that as much of the site as possible should be subjected to geophysical surveying in order that further areas of archaeological interest could be identified. The results of such a survey could be used to determine what areas should be subjected to archaeological testing by hand- and machine-excavation.

The geophysical investigations were undertaken by GeoArc Ltd from 21 to 24 June. A total of 35 20m-by-20m grids were surveyed by means of magnetic gradiometry. An area measuring 40m x 40m, to the north of the existing graveyard, was also subjected to investigation by means of resistivity survey. This particular area was chosen as it had been identified as the most likely location of the remaining friary buildings, given the typical layout of such establishments. The results of the magnetic gradiometry survey indicated the existence of a number of linear and circular anomalies, of unknown origin, as well as a number of additional anomalies that may have been produced by previous burning. The resistivity results displayed a number of rectangular and subrectangular positive anomalies, which were interpreted as being produced by the masonry foundations of several buildings, most likely associated with the friary.

The results from the surveys were used to determine the locations of test-trenches in order to investigate the various detected anomalies. The areas that could not be subjected to such survey methods were likewise investigated by means of trial-trenches. Such testing was undertaken from 22 to 28 July, with additional testing carried out on 11 August. Furthermore, monitoring of pipe-trench excavations along the northern boundary of the site, associated with the servicing of an adjacent development, was undertaken in November 1999.

The results of the testing programme confirmed the presence and extent of the subsurface wall features to the north of the existing graveyard and indicate that these appear to be linked with the extant features of the friary. In addition, a number of burials were revealed to the north, west and south of the existing graveyard boundary walls. Furthermore, additional walls were revealed to the south and south-west of the graveyard. A gravel surface was also uncovered to the south-west of the graveyard, which may be the remains of the road feature identified in aerial photographs. A number of areas of burning were also uncovered, the locations of which were broadly similar to those detected by the magnetic gradiometer investigations. One unusual feature was a stone-built tunnel with an arched roof, running south-west from the south-eastern corner of the graveyard. This feature had been truncated by a modern sewerage pipe. While the structural nature of the feature is not representative of classic souterrain construction methods, this possible interpretation cannot, as yet, be ruled out.

A number of artefacts were recovered during testing, including sherds of medieval pottery, fragments of roof tiles and fragments of decorated floor tiles, all of which are probably related to the friary.

Reference
Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R.N. 1970 Medieval religious houses: Ireland. Dublin.