County: Kilkenny Site name: GORTEENS AND DRUMDOWNEY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0277
Author: John Tierney, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Quay
Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)
ITM: E 666568m, N 615151m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.283999, -7.024351
Sites 6 and 10 were to be recorded and tested as part of an archaeological impact assessment prior to expansion at Belview Harbour.
Site 6 comprises a small harbour, its associated boathouse and the retaining walls along the banks of the River Suir. Testing was carried out along the base of the harbour walls to seek evidence for early remains and to help determine the nature of the relationship between the walls and the estuarine sediments, including any sediments of archaeological provenance. The site is associated with Snowhill House, a Georgian residence approximately 150m to the north-west. This building was demolished in 1955 and the structures within Site 6 may have fallen into disrepair as a result. Access to the site is gained through an archway in the retaining wall.
The derelict quay is orientated north-west/south-east and is composed of one long and one short wall, forming an L shape. The shorter arm of the quay, 22m long, runs parallel to the river course. The longer arm is 33m in length, and both this wall and the latter are of drystone construction. A flight of steps is discernible on the outer face of the wall to the south-west. A further wall to the north-east acts as an embracing arm to the quay, turning it into a small sheltered harbour. This wall, 27.5m long, is of drystone construction, but a weathered timber revetment is also incorporated in its design.
Two test-pits were hand-excavated along the base of the longer arm of the harbour. One was positioned along the inner face of the wall, while the second was dug along its exterior. The external test-pit revealed the basal stone layer of the wall, which was higher than the basal stones to the south-east. This suggested that the harbour wall was built using the natural slope of the intertidal zone.
The boathouse is orientated north-west/south-east and is in a ruinous condition. Access to the building is gained through an arch in the retaining wall, 36m north-east of the main arch, or through a narrow entranceway in the rear wall. The building is 8.4m long and 3.8m wide. Its roof has collapsed.
Site 10 is a large metal object in the harbour of Site 6. Through intertidal action the estuarine silts were removed from the wreck, exposing it sufficiently to determine that it is the remains of a modern motor vehicle.
Unit 2F, Dungarvan Business Park, Shandon, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
