2001:659 - LEIXLIP: 7 The Mall, Kildare

An assessment was carried out at No. 7 The Mall, Leixlip, Co. Kildare. The terrace of houses known as The Mall is located on the north side of the Main Street in Leixlip and is set back slightly from the street frontage. The existing premises at No. 7 consists of a two-storey masonry structure which probably dates from the late 18th century. An extension at the rear of this building dates from the late 20th century. The site is within the zone of archaeological potential for Leixlip.

Two trenches were excavated on 30 March and 2 April 2001. Owing to standing buildings and surrounding boundary walls the trenches were excavated by hand. Trench A was excavated in the north of the property, which is presently used as garden. The trench was located on the line of the proposed northern wall foundation. Excavation to natural subsoil at a depth of 1.3m failed to detect any features of archaeological significance. The layers of material encountered in the trench are likely to derive from the dumping of household refuse in modern times at the rear of the property.

Trench B, which measured 2m north–south by 1m, was excavated by hand within the south-westernmost room of the original masonry structure. At a depth of 1m below present ground level a moderately compact mid-brown silty clay with occasional inclusions of small stones was encountered. Seven sherds of local/Dublin-type medieval pottery and Leinster cooking ware were recovered from this layer. Approximately 0.2m of this layer was excavated, at which point excavation ceased. It is likely that this layer may represent a cultivated soil of medieval date or may be the result of alluvial flooding. This layer was sealed by a cobbled surface. Modern rubble layers comprised the upper deposits of the trench.

Additional archaeological work was recommended and is anticipated in 2002.

2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co Dublin