County: Dublin Site name: NANGOR (Grange Castle International Business Park), Clondalkin
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0754
Author: Ian W. Doyle, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Field system
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 703396m, N 731728m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.325705, -6.447885
Excavations commenced in this area of the Grange Castle International Business Park in October 2000 and are continuing at the time of writing (January 2001). The site of Nangor Castle (SMR 17:37) is located immediately outside the southern boundary of the Wyeth Medica Ireland biotechnology campus. There are no upstanding remains of Nangor Castle—demolition appears to have happened in the 1970s. Cartographic evidence and test-trenching carried out close to this area (see Excavations 2000, No. 223) indicate that a complex of agricultural buildings and concrete surfaces existed in the area. To the west of the Nangor Castle site, mid-19th-century OS maps depict a well-designed garden. The unkempt remains of this garden exist today to the south of the biotechnology campus.
The placename Nangor appears to be of old French origin. In 1307 there is a reference to the tenements of ‘Kilbryde and the Naungre’, which were held by Walter de Kenley from William, son of John de Galbarry, for a rent of 20 pounds (Mills 1914, 356). Test-trenching carried out by Cia McConway in 1996 at Nangor Castle revealed at least one substantial ditch and a shallow linear feature to the west of the castle site (Excavations 1996, 17, 96E0273).
The present phase of excavation was designed to resolve any archaeological material in Fields 112 and 113 within the southern boundary of the biotechnology campus. In addition to this, excavation is ongoing to the south of the boundary in a corridor through the Nangor Castle gardens (South Dublin County Council land) to enable a gas pipeline and access road to serve the Wyeth Medica Ireland site.
To date, a complex of intercutting medieval ditches and gullies has been excavated. Some 1500 sherds of locally manufactured medieval pottery (Dublin-type wares, Leinster cooking ware) have been recovered. A complete iron sickle was found in a ditch associated with sherds of medieval pottery. Further details will be provided for Excavations 2001.
Reference
Mills, J. (ed.) 1914 Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls or Proceedings in the Court of the Justiciar of Ireland, Edward I. Part 2. Dublin.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
