County: Kildare Site name: CELBRIDGE: St Wolstan’s
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E1026
Author: Rosanne Meenan, for ADS Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 699129m, N 733626m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.343569, -6.511321
The site is outside the zone of archaeological potential for Celbridge, east of the town, in the same field as the remains of St Wolstan’s Priory (SMR 11:14). The priory was founded by Adam de Hereford c. 1205. When it was dissolved in 1536 it is recorded that there were gardens, orchards, cottages, watermills and rectories. The property passed to the Alen family, who held it for two centuries before selling it on. The present St Wolstan’s House (SMR 11:28) was said to have been built by John Alen, who was reputed to have also built Jigginstown House near Naas in the first half of the 17th century.
An archaeological assessment, comprising testing and an impact statement, was requested as a condition of the planning permission for the proposed dwelling-house on this site. Three trenches tested the wall footings of the house and a fourth tested the area of the septic tank. A further four sampled the location of the driveway and an area where trees will probably be planted.
The overlying ploughsoil was a layer of grey loamy soil. Underlying this was natural boulder clay; bedrock was exposed in several areas.
Evidence was exposed for dumping of stone in several locations in the area of the proposed development. It is likely that this dumping took place in the recent past as it was exposed immediately under the sod and no artefacts were found to suggest an early date. In addition, the landowner remembered that drainage work was carried out here about 30 years ago and that fill was brought in at the same time.
Roestown, Drumree, Co. Meath
