2000:0535 - BANKS OF THE RIVER BREAGAGH, Gardens, Kilkenny, Kilkenny

An initial phase of testing was undertaken in September and October 2000, along the banks of the River Breagagh. The Breagagh flows into the west bank of the River Nore and takes its name from the Irish bréagach, meaning deceitful. It has been described as ‘flanked almost continuously by significant archaeological sites’ (O’Sullivan and Deevy, EIS 1999, 63) and served as the dividing line between the medieval boroughs of High Town and Irish Town. The river is fortified by the city wall, a mural tower and gates on the High Town side and is also crossed by a number of medieval and post-medieval bridges. It is also bordered by ecclesiastical sites and several mills.

Proposed work in the River Breagagh will start at the Black Cat Bridge and extend to the confluence with the River Nore. The development involves the lowering of the riverbed in three selected locations, with additional selective widening of the river by removal of the banks at three further locations. This will involve a programme of dredging with the provision of a central, deeper fish channel. A new bridge will be built in the Smithwick’s Brewery, and new weirs will be installed upstream of Watergate and at the confluence with the River Nore. Raised earthen flood-berms will also be located at the Black Cat Bridge (south bank), Black Mills Bridge (north bank) and to the rear of the Black Abbey (south bank).

Four of eight proposed test-trenches were excavated on the north bank of the River Breagagh. Two structural features of archaeological significance were noted in two of the trenches. However, no artefact-bearing archaeological deposits were encountered in these trenches, and outcropping white sandstone bedrock was only noted in one trench.

Trench 1 was excavated 50m south-east of Watergate and was 6m long. This revealed a substantial linear timber structure 2.6m wide, probably representing part of a possible late medieval timber weir, associated with an unnamed mill on the opposite bank.

Trench 3 was excavated 60m south-west of Black Friars Bridge and revealed modern and early modern activity. This consisted of the eastern end of a stone rectangular building and an unassociated revetment wall, abutted by a plank fence with iron strapping to the riverside. Both features appeared to pre-date the existing river wall and probably date to the 18th century.

Trench 4 was excavated to assess the archaeological potential of a semicircular portion of river wall, close to the site of Blackmills Bridge. No archaeological soils were encountered in this trench, although no date could be established for the wall, which appears on Rocque’s map of 1758 and the first edition 1840 OS map. River gravels were revealed in this trench at a depth of 3m. No archaeological artefacts were retrieved from the gravels.

Trench 5 was excavated 86m south-west of Black Friars Bridge and revealed early modern and modern activity but no archaeological soils or features. River gravels were revealed in this trench at 1.1m, overlying alluvial peat and muds, and an outcrop of white sandstone bedrock at a depth of 3m.

The results of selective archaeological testing and an assessment along the banks of the River Breagagh have revealed fourteen sites of archaeological significance and four previously unknown structures within the banks of the river, including a possible late medieval timber weir, a post-medieval stone structure, a possible medieval wall and timber foundations for an early modern bridge. The limited remit of this programme of testing was partly owing to access limitations. However, further testing in the riverbed is planned when water levels have dropped to workable levels. Archaeological survey of all upstanding features within the riverbanks is currently underway. Archaeological monitoring of construction and full excavation or preservation in situ of all areas of archaeological potential directly affected by development have been recommended.

2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin