2000:0656 - DROGHEDA: Caffrey's Monumental Works, Dyer Street, Louth

Excavations were carried out at the site over a seven-month period, from March to October 2000. This work was undertaken in advance of the redevelopment of the site as a commercial and residential urban development with underground carpark. The site, a former monumental works, lies on the south side of Dyer Street, adjacent to Wogan’s furniture store, overlooking the River Boyne. Excavation of the site revealed six main phases of activity developing from the late 12th century to the post-medieval period (absolute dates have yet to be returned for these phases—dates shown in parentheses below should be regarded as provisional).

Phase 1 (late 12th/early 13th century)
The site occupies the former northern foreshore of the River Boyne, represented by a basal layer of wet, blue, silty sand, encountered at depths below present ground surface of between 1.4m towards the northern end of the site and 4.2m along the southern fringe. The northern extent of the foreshore was inlaid with an intermittent boulder ‘surface’ extending south from the street frontage for up to 25m.

Waterfront burgage plot
The southern section of an early medieval burgage plot was revealed beneath black, organic reclamation of late 13th–14th-century date. The plot was defined by two low, wattle walls, a series of plank and post timbers forming a wharf, a jetty, a metalled slipway and a gravel path lined by wattle walls, which extend east from the plot. The west–east wattle wall survived to 4.6m long and between 0.3m and 0.71m high, with an average thickness of 0.3m. The north–south wattle wall survived to 5.6m long and between 0.28m and 0.74m high, with an average thickness of 0.08m. An east–west-aligned path extending east from the burgage plot consisted of a gravel path, 3.4m west–east by at most 1m, flanked by wattle walls to south and north, both of which had collapsed over the path.

Wharf and jetty structures
The slipway measured 3.6m north–south by 2.45m and was defined by thin wooden planks held in place by wooden posts. A double setting of wooden posts ran 4.3m east to the jetty. This consisted of a linear arrangement of 29 timber piles (c. 0.7m long), 4.4m north–south by 0.7m, which would have supported a planked surface over standing water. An arrangement of three squared timber base planks, one of which contained remains of uprights, represents the base of a structure or timber platform 2.3m square, possibly used to hoist cargo and goods from riverboats and barges. The southern edge of the wharf survived as two primary base timbers end to end. It is unclear if this section of revetment was back or front braced; however, it would have provided a fender for moored boats.

Phase 2 (13th century)
The main components of this phase were a timber revetment, part of which was associated with a masonry structure, interpreted as either a crane/mast base or the base of a waterfront tower. Other masonry remains comprised harbour walls, quayside and dock. The development of the main harbour can be divided into two main stages.

Stage I: timber revetment (dual north harbour wall)
A revetment, 2189, defines the landward side of the harbour. It is a substantial front-braced timber revetment surviving to 23m long by 1.7m in maximum height. The revetment was cut into and subsequently silted over by the basal sand and covered by reclamation deposits from the 14th century. The revetment can be broken into two distinct sections.

The eastern section, 2189a, survived to 8m long, between 1.35m and 1.6m wide and on average 1.7m high. It comprised a single primary base timber with nine squared uprights spaced 0.85m apart. Secondary base timbers sat perpendicular to the uprights and supported bracing timbers. All timbers were secured in mortices with dowels, pegs and wedges. The secondary base timbers had cushion stones below them at the southern end. The planking was not formerly attached to the uprights and was almost exclusively reused clinker planking from small ships or boats. A secondary, squared, upright timber recovered from the end of the secondary base at upright T144 during the 1999 assessment (Excavations 1999, 192–3) returned a dendrochronological date of AD 1222±9. This section of revetment braces and retains a substantial rectangular masonry structure of stepped profile, with the southern face externally battered at a line above the top of the revetment (2022/2024/2065).

The western revetment section, 2189b, extends south-west from the corner of structure 2022/2065 and timber section 2189a, surviving to 15m long, 1.6–2.4m wide and 1.6–0.5m high. It comprised three primary base timbers, supporting seven squared uprights (not spaced equidistantly) attached to the primary bases, with corresponding secondary base timbers. Only five bracing timbers survived, one of which had no corresponding upright. Construction and attachment method were the same as the eastern section. Only the lower section of the planking survived, none of which was reused clinker planking. Some of the bracing timbers suggest that they were salvaged from other timber-framed or sill-beam structures. Sometime during the early to mid-13th century the revetment was shortened to intersect with the newly constructed west harbour wall, 2199, which overlay three secondary base timbers at its west end. By this stage the revetment had assumed a dual role of retaining reclamation and providing a stable and secure harbour or quay wall. 2189b was further utilised as the northern perimeter of a masonry dock, 2195.

Crane/mast base
This was a substantial masonry structure comprising mortarless limestone blocks and slabs built roughly to courses measuring 8m west–east by 10.3m, standing at most 3.1m high. Internally the south and west wall of the structure were stepped in profile, while externally the south-facing wall was battered above the line of revetment 2189a.

Stage II: harbour and quay walls
The shortening of revetment 2189b represents the secondary development of the south-east corner of the site into an enclosed harbour. This was achieved by the construction of an enclosing masonry quay/harbour wall, providing a harbour area at least 22m wide (west–east) by at most 14.5m deep, directly south of the crane base, decreasing to 10m deep (north–south) along the western side of the harbour at the junction of revetment 2189b and masonry wall 2199. The masonry remains all comprised undressed and unmortared limestone slabs, blocks and stone. Two sections of wall define the entrance; 2220 on the west side and 2221 on the east. 2220 survived to 11m long and 2221 to 5.5m; both were up to 2.25m high, providing an entrance gap up to 6m wide (west–east). The walls were battered in profile, with an estimated basal width of at least 4m. Intermittent stone boulders strewn across the base of the harbour entrance may represent discarded stone ballast. A substantial quay/harbour wall defines the west side of the harbour, running north from 2220 to revetment 2189b, surviving to 8.5m long (north–south) by c. 2m wide and at most 1.8m high.

Dock and inlet
Within the enclosed harbour a small dock (or possibly a boathouse) was added to the north-west corner. With a maximum internal width of 6.4m (west–east) at the south and 5m at the north, and between 7m (north–south) at the east and 5.5m at the west, the east wall was constructed over a discarded ship timber. The south wall survived to 6m long, 1m wide and between 0.5m and 1m high, providing an entrance gap 1m wide at the south-east corner of the structure. The western wall, built onto quay wall 2199, survived to 4m long, 0.5m wide and at most 1m high. The dock’s south wall provided a berth or inlet for a small boat, further defined by harbour wall 2220 at the south. The berth/inlet was 3m wide (north–south) by 6m long (west–east) and open to the east. A squared primary base timber with mortice holes lying parallel south along the wall of 2195 contained two squared uprights, originally designed to provide a fender to protect the hull of small vessels berthing here.

Western quay and burgage plot walls
A west–east quay wall ran west of harbour wall 2199 and represents the waterfront side of two to three burgage plots, defined by walls 2132 and 2202, which return north. The quay wall section immediately west of 2199 operated as a wharf or quay, being up to 8.5m long (west–east) and significantly more robust than the sections to the west (c. 2.35m wide). It has a battered external face with possible steps and a recess to accommodate ship embarkation.

Phase 3 (14th to early 15th century)
The harbour was filled in with reclamation sometime during the late 14th century. Reclamation deposit 2080 extended across the entire site in varying depth, though it was deepest and most rich within the former harbour area. Large quantities of artefacts were recovered from the deposit, including pottery, animal bones, leather, textile, rope/cordage and wooden objects. The pottery included much locally made glazed wares; of the imported wares, English and French fabrics predominated. Significantly, fragments of Bristol ware face pots, one of which displayed several figures, each wearing a ring brooch, were recovered. Metal finds mainly comprised nails, some of which were the clenched type, though notably several pins and one ring brooch were also recovered. The leather assemblage was dominated by medieval footwear, including related offcuts and discarded waste material. However, it also contained fragments of belts and a number of scabbards, some highly decorated. Large braided ‘ropes’ of coarse animal hair were found throughout 2080, especially in the former harbour area, and served as rope or cordage as well as for caulking.

Ship and boat timbers
The most significant finds from the reclamation within the harbour were numerous ships’ timbers, mostly recovered immediately south of revetment 2189a. Sections of clinker planking, many of which still had clenched nails attached, a stem, a stern, a keelson or futtock and, perhaps most significantly, a complete rudder were found. The rudder, 3.8m long, survived intact and does not appear to have been used; rather than salvaged timber, this represents a locally made replacement rudder never fitted. Indeed the planking from the revetment and various timbers from the reclamation suggest that vessels would have been repaired and significantly dismantled for reuse when they were no longer seaworthy.

Masonry structure
A small rectangular structure, 7.5m long (north–south) by 3m wide, was located in the central area of the site, representing the lower foundation of a structure partly incorporated into the eastern side of a Phase 4 masonry building. The rubble foundation walls were c. 0.3m wide and up to 0.4m high. A narrow arch, at most 0.8m high and 0.7m wide at the base, was located in the west-facing section of the eastern wall. The function of the structure is unclear, though it would have lain towards the southern end of its corresponding burgage plot. No clear indication of a floor level was found, though timber planks from within the eastern wall suggest the possibility of a supported floor. A small area of cobbles with at least four paving slabs extends south of the structure to quay wall 2199.

Timber boardwalk
This extended west from wall 2199 and consisted of four separate split planks, secured at the northern end by opposing squared upright posts driven into the reclamation deposit, with the beam attached to the tethering posts by a horizontal-set dowel through corresponding mortices. The south end of at least two of the split plank beams rested on the south wall of the dock (2195), and it is likely that the structure was designed to provide a plank-covered walkway or boardwalk into the former harbour area to aid in the reclamation of the area.

Phase 4 (mid-15th to mid-16th century)
Major features of this phase comprise at least one masonry building, 2106–2107, and a series of north–south-aligned burgage property walls, all of which are cut directly into the reclamation deposit.

Masonry structure
This rectangular structure, 2121, was located centrally within the site and partly overlay an earlier structure. The foundation walls survived to 1m thick and almost 2m high, representing a twin-room structure 7m wide west–east and surviving to at least 8m long north–south. The rubble walls were partially mortared and overlay a dump deposit containing mortar at the south. The internally stepped profile of the walls suggests that the original floor level may have comprised a clay platform overlain by timber boards or stone slabs.

Burgage plot walls
Two major burgage plot walls are represented. The western wall survived uninterrupted throughout the length of the site, a distance of 91m, with relieving arches along its length. The south section of wall, which traversed the former harbour area and deep reclamation, was c. 0.8m wide at the top, 0.85m wide at its base and 2.3m high. Clusters of timber piles were found at the end of each relieving arch through the southern 14m stretch of the wall to where it intersected the extant harbour wall, 2220. The arches through the central section of the wall were more symmetrical than those to the south, supported by piles. This section was c. 0.8m wide by 1.6m high with arches 1.5m wide at the base. The northern section of this wall was badly preserved owing to disturbance caused by later buildings along the street, where they had been reused as foundation walls for cellars/basements.

Phase 5 (late 16th to late 17th century)
Masonry building
The western wall of structure 2121 is built directly along the line of the earlier medieval burgage plot wall 2132. The structure was 12.6m wide (west–east), and a section 16m long (north–south) was fully exposed. A series of compartments, each about 5.5m2, lies along the western side of the building, suggesting that the compartment area was a yard, possibly with a series of covered compartments or sheds along the west. The southern compartment contained a flagstone floor supported by a series of timber piles, and the next compartment north contained a timber-lined box comprising four vertically set squared posts lined by a series of short, thin, wooden planks or staves, which contained a barrel hoop. The northern compartment sat 0.5m above those to the south and comprised wall and flooring of large dressed limestone blocks mortared into position on a foundation of heavy, plastic clay. Wall 2133 associated with structure 2121 extended south from its south-east edge for about 36m, measuring 0.8m in width and 0.4m in height. This represents the disturbed remains of a further enclosed yard.

Y-shaped lintel drain
Extending south from the upper battered section of the crane/mast base, the drain was 17m long, with the east arm 9m long and the west 8m. It measured between 1.2m and 1.7m wide and 0.4–0.5m high and was constructed of limestone slabs and boulders with many of the lintels of schist. The floor was cobbled or occasionally slab-covered. The lower channel had been narrowed at a later stage by the insertion of a rubble limestone wall.

Well
This drystone well was c. 2.4m deep with a 1.8m external diameter. The upper 1m of fill contained mixed medieval and post-medieval finds; the remaining lower fill consisted of silt and stone. A lintelled feeder drain, c. 0.4m2, intersected the central body of the well from the north-east. Its stratigraphic relationship suggests that it was inserted sometime during Phase 6. A much-disturbed exit drain was found in interrupted sections extending from the base of the well in a south-east direction over a distance of 1.6m.

Phase 6 (18th to late 19th century)
This phase represents the most dense and complex series of features and structures recorded from the excavation. Remains of two tannery areas and an extensive salt-works complex were revealed, each with associated structures and outhouses.

Tannery
Remains of two tannery areas were revealed. In the south-east corner of the site, overlying the eastern side of the former medieval harbour, eight rectangular tanning boxes were revealed extending into and beyond the eastern excavation limit, linking them with tannery remains revealed during excavations in the adjacent site. The eastern boxes contained a very pungent, sticky, extremely compact, grey, plastic clay, while those to the west contained a series of stratified deposits including stone, cinder and bark chippings. The boxes were entirely of plank construction, set into compact, plastic, orange clay. The second tannery area overlay earlier structures in the west of the site, particularly the slipway.

Salt-works
An extensive interconnecting network of buildings defined by mortared wall foundations and cobbled floors extended throughout the central area of the excavation and west and east along the present quay front. The waterfront structures comprised numerous compartments, many of which had cobbled floors. The structures varied in dimension from small box compartments 2m2 to rectangular structures 5m by 8m. Cobbled paths were also found connecting some of the structures.

Redbrick cellar
The largest and most impressive of these buildings was, however, a large redbrick cellar, at most 8.6m north–south by 9m. Removal of the rubble fill of the structure revealed remains of a relieving arch, which, along with several timber planks set onto the brick floor, denotes three main compartments or rooms. Access into the structure was most likely through an apparent stairwell, which projected from the south-west corner of the structure.

Conclusions
The presence of a timber wharf and jetty along the south side of the early medieval burgage plot represents the earliest clear waterfront usage of the site as a foreshore landing stage, complete with a platform or deck for hoisting spars to handle cargo. The most significant discovery was, however, the construction of the medieval harbour, undoubtedly associated with the medieval chapel and precinct of St Saviour’s. The ships’ timbers in the revetment correspond with the section bracing and the possible crane or mast tower, and, perhaps to accentuate this more, most of the ships’ timbers from the reclamation deposit lay against or immediately south of this section. The harbour, with its dock and inlet or berth, provided an area in which to handle cargoes, carry out repairs and possibly decommission vessels. Post-excavation work is ongoing.

15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth