2001:411 - DUBLIN: 1–2 Strand Street Little, Dublin

Testing was undertaken at the site in February 2001. In the 13th century this area of Dublin was known as the Pill, a tidal marsh dissected by a network of creeks and channels (DeCourcy 1996). It was not until the 17th century that attempts were made to develop this area. It is probable that the name of Strand Street, as shown on Brooking’s map, derived from the fact that this line ‘indicates the position of the high-tide shoreline before the strand was taken in from the sea’ (op. cit., 284). Rocque’s map shows that by the middle of the 18th century this area was primarily residential, with houses facing onto Strand Street Little.

The existing building was constructed in the 1920s on the site of an earlier terraced building. Four walls were identified in the course of the testing. Two were clearly internal cellar walls, while the third would appear to be the original dividing wall between Nos 1 and 2 Strand Street Little. The fourth wall was situated 2.4m below ground surface (50.2m OD). Only the northern face of this wall was exposed, at a depth of 3.2m (49.4m OD) and cut into a layer of grey silt. There is no datable material associated with this wall, which has a similar construction to that of the original dividing wall between Nos 1 and 2.

As the proposed building is to be constructed on a combination of ground beams and piles it will not impact upon the walls identified in the course of the testing programme.

Reference
DeCourcy, J.W. 1996 The Liffey in Dublin. Dublin.

32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2