County: Kilkenny Site name: ORMONDE MILLS AND WEIR COMPLEX, Dukesmeadows, Kilkenny
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 19:27 Licence number: 00E0388
Author: Paul Stevens, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Water mill - vertical-wheeled and Weir - regulating
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 651439m, N 656043m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.653143, -7.239752
Test-trenching was carried out for the proposed Kilkenny Flood Relief Scheme at the site of Ormonde Mills, which is in the east of the city, on the southern bank of the River Nore, close to Kilkenny Castle. This site is noted in the Archaeological Urban Survey of Kilkenny and is described in the EIA as ‘post-medieval water mills’. The site was recorded as ‘corn mills’ owned by the duke of Ormonde at the time of the Civil Survey of 1654–5 and is depicted on Rocque’s map of 1758 as the ‘Castle Mills’. The mills survive in a ruinous condition and contain a weir to the east and west of the mill complex.
The current proposed development is to widen the southern bank of the River Nore by up to 18m at a point adjacent to the northernmost outbuildings of Ormonde Mills. It is also proposed to break through the associated weirs for an 8–10m section, to make way for two new sluice-gates to be constructed.
Two test-trenches were excavated at this site. Trench 1 was located adjacent to the eastern weir and was 12.5m long, 1m wide and 2.4m deep. Trench 2 was located across the northernmost ruined mill outbuilding and was 15.2m long, 1m wide and 1.7m deep. No archaeological soils were encountered in either trench. Further monitoring of development and architectural survey was recommended.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
