2000:0541 - KILKENNY: 26–29 John Street, Kilkenny

A pre-development site investigation was carried out at 26–29 John Street, Kilkenny, between 20 and 29 September 2000, in advance of the proposed development of the ‘Kilford Arms Hotel’. The site impinges on the zone of archaeological potential for Kilkenny City. The site investigation, which incorporated eleven test-trenches, identified a limited amount of medieval archaeological activity in an area fronting onto John Street. The licence was extended, and the area of identified archaeology was fully excavated between 23 and 27 October 2000. Part of the construction groundworks was also monitored.

The excavation (and subsequent monitoring) revealed that the site had been virtually unoccupied until about the 18th century. The earliest phase of archaeology dated to the medieval period. Two furrow cuts, a possible field ditch and several isolated pits were identified, all of which produced medieval pottery (13th/14th century). No domestic or structural activity was noted within the medieval phase. These features suggest that the site was used for agricultural purposes during the medieval period and was not occupied (residentially) until the 17th/18th century, when the first building phase was identified. A similar scenario was borne out at 24 John Street Upper, excavated by Mary Henry (Excavations 1999, 145–6, 99E0564), where the only building activity identified dated to the post-medieval period. The emerging evidence suggests that John Street Upper may have developed later than anticipated.

44 Eaton Heights, Cobh, Co. Cork