2000:0282 - PHOENIX PARK, Dublin, Dublin

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Dublin Site name: PHOENIX PARK, Dublin

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0562

Author: Helen Kehoe

Site type: Road - road/trackway

Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)

ITM: E 709546m, N 735837m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.361382, -6.354189

Owing to grass/sod clearance of an area in the south-west of the Phoenix Park directly adjacent to the western boundary wall, an investigation was carried out to establish the exact location, boundary edges and general direction of a pathway known to date from the early 1700s. Removal of grass/sod to locate the exact boundaries was necessary to exempt the area from any future intrusive landscaping/ maintenance. The pathway extended almost parallel to the existing western boundary wall between White’s Gate and Knockmaroon Gate. A section of the pathway is visible on an 1830 plan of the Phoenix Park.

An area 7m wide by 2m in length was cleared of a 0.1–0.15m layer of grass and topsoil by hand, and a section of the pathway was revealed immediately underneath. The western edge of the path was located 5.4m from the existing western boundary wall and was composed of small, round, grey pebbles compactly set together in a gritty, sandy pea gravel. The 6.45m-wide pathway was edged on either side by larger, irregular-shaped stones, 0.15m by 0.12m in size. From the eastern edge, the pathway was c. 0.15m deep, with a slightly raised camber towards its centre. The location of the cutting is approximately 540m along the western boundary wall from the White’s Gate road.

The pathway lies under a layer of grass/sod and appears to extend to nearly all of its original length, as small patches are exposed along its route, where walkers have worn away the sod. The section uncovered showed it to be in good condition, being well protected by grass/topsoil. The route of the pathway is noticeably lacking in mature trees, which suggests a long-term usage, possibly up to the time of Decimus Burton, who, from 1832 to 1845, was commissioned to implement major landscape improvements to the park. The cutting will be covered with soil and reseeded for protection. There were no finds.

11 Norseman Place, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7