County: Kildare Site name: KILDARE: Firecastle Lane/Malone’s Lane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E1213
Author: Martin E. Byrne
Site type: Town
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 672490m, N 712387m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.157044, -6.916119
Testing was undertaken at a proposed development site located at Heffernan’s Lane/Firecastle Lane, Kildare, on 1 December 2001. The site is within the designated zone of archaeological potential associated with Kildare town, being directly south-west of a complex of monuments including St Brigid’s Cathedral and early monastic site.
The mechanical excavation of three trenches took place within the confines of the existing site boundaries. No features or finds of archaeological potential were revealed. There are two extant over-basement cottages on the site. Documentary and cartographic research indicates that the westernmost cottage probably dates from the mid–late 19th century while the easternmost building was constructed in the late 19th/early 20th century.
Given the results of testing and the fact that the original surface levels across the site had been reduced substantially in former times, it is not considered likely that any material of archaeological interest or potential exists within the present site boundaries. However, it was not possible to test along the existing lanes, where sewerage services for the development, as proposed, will be laid.
There are no known dates for when the lanes were originally laid out. Both are shown on Rocque’s map of 1757, although it is likely that they existed for a long time before this. It is possible that original surface layers that might aid in the dating of these lanes exist in a subsurface context, below the existing surfaces. Consequently it was suggested that, should planning permission be granted for the development or any subsequent development, a condition be included to ensure that all groundworks associated with the provision of sewers and services outside the external building lines of the development be monitored. Furthermore, given that the westernmost cottage, at the corner of Firecastle Lane and Malone’s Lane, is constructed of stone and that it is likely that some reused medieval cut-stone fragments might exist within the structure, it was suggested that the demolition of this building be monitored.
31 Millford, Athgarvan, Co. Kildare
