2000:0162 - THE BRIDEWELL, Magherafelt, Derry

Monitoring of excavation work to construct a new library and theatre, adjacent to and integrated with the Bridewell old jail, Magherafelt, Co. Derry, was carried out. This work was undertaken during October 2000.

Magherafelt is a Plantation town, begun in 1613–14. Building of a manor house and bawn commenced in 1615, but they were destroyed and rebuilt in 1677. Substantial activity in this area, however, significantly pre-dates the Plantation, as records from 1425 show that the ‘old church’ adjacent to the development in question was at this time referred to as ‘ancient’.

The development concerned the area immediately to the north of the Bridewell building, between it and the ‘old church’ boundary wall, and to the south and west of the Bridewell, on an area where the old courthouse stood, constructed in 1804. The Bridewell, constructed in 1839, was sited on the earlier linen hall, built in 1820, beside the old courthouse.

The area to the south had been substantially disturbed by modern construction work. One ditch/gully feature was detected but not believed to be of great antiquity. Nothing else could be ascertained about this area.

The area to the south and west lay on the site of the old courthouse, which fell into disuse in 1896. The area had been highly disturbed, but the foundations of the western wall of the courthouse remained. The remains of a small structure, with five large, crude foundation stones, were uncovered, with a surface on its ‘outside’ and successive layers of burning detected within it. This building appears to have been truncated by the building of the old courthouse in 1804 and may represent the remains of one of the dwellings of the earliest inhabitants of the Plantation town. Typical post-medieval pottery types were found, with a large proportion of animal bone. No exceptional finds were noted. Post-excavation work is ongoing.

Unit 6, Farset Enterprise Park, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast