County: Meath Site name: ATHBOY: The Old Mill, Lower Bridge Street
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0109
Author: Ian Russell, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Town
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 671748m, N 764315m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.623738, -6.915403
An archaeological assessment was carried out at the site of The Old Mill, Lower Bridge Street, Athboy, Co. Meath, on 11 April 2000. Outline planning permission was granted for ten two-storey townhouses and the change of use of existing warehouse buildings to twenty duplex units and twenty apartments, with provision for 51 carparking spaces, new entrances and ancillary services. The planning application received a number of archaeological conditions for a building survey and an assessment at the site as requirements for outline permission. The building survey has already been carried out and a report submitted. A decision by the developer to partly alter the layout of the proposed development has led to a new planning submission. However, the recommendations by Dúchas The Heritage Service, in respect of Planning Reference 98/2124, remain applicable.
Three test-trenches were excavated by machine within the proposed development. Trenches 1 and 2 were excavated north-west of the mill, in an area of marshy land adjacent to the river. Trench 3 was excavated directly to the rear of the mill, in the area of the proposed townhouses.
Trenches 1 and 2 revealed that the natural marl and gravel deposits are present at a depth of 0.5m below the topsoil. Similarly, Trench 3 revealed that the natural gravel and stone were present below a thick layer of post-medieval topsoil at a depth of 0.85m. No archaeological features or deposits were exposed in any of the excavated trenches, and the only finds recovered were post-medieval in date. Consequently no further work is required on the site, and the proposed development will not have an archaeological impact.
15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
