2000:0782 - MANORLAND (2ND DIVISION), Trim, Meath

Manorland (2nd Division) lies south-west of the urban area of Trim and well outside the medieval core of the town. Meath County Council is developing the area for local authority housing. The Phase 1 development, which is currently under construction, will comprise 38 houses. The overall development will comprise approximately 160 houses. Testing was required to assess the archaeological potential and probable impact of this housing development.

While no archaeological monument is listed for the development area, one recorded monument bounds the site to the south-east. This site, SMR 36:26, was identified from an aerial photograph as a rectilinear enclosure, c. 50m x 50m.

Work on the Phase 1 development had commenced prior to any archaeological presence on the site. This area was examined closely for any evidence of buried features, and three test-trenches were opened to the south. No buried features were uncovered, and artefacts within the ploughed soils appeared predominantly of 18th–19th-century date.

Although the subsequent phases of construction are not yet scheduled, testing continued over the whole site. A further eight test-trenches were opened. In general, material from these trenches, contained in the topsoil, was again from the 18th–19th century. One trench to the north exposed ruinous remains of a field fence of uncertain date.

Three trenches were excavated in the field immediately north of the recorded monument. Apart from one sherd of post-medieval Sgraffito ware, finds were mainly of 19th-century date. The findings from this assessment, supported by the cartographic evidence, suggest that this area was agricultural land. A 3m buffer zone has been demarcated between the recorded monument and the development area.

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