2001:696 - KILKENNY: NOR-6, Bateman Quay, Kilkenny

Introduction
Archaeological excavation and full building survey of a semicircular riverside revetment wall and associated early modern gazebo at Bateman Quay, Townparks, Kilkenny, were undertaken by the writer (licence ref.: 01E0555) with assistance from Dr Niall Brady of ADCO Ltd (licence ref.: 01E0036) in July 2001. The work formed part of ongoing pre-development mitigation for the River Nore (Kilkenny City) Drainage Scheme (formerly known as the Kilkenny Flood Relief Scheme). Proposed development included removal of this site within a 6m-wide section of the right riverbank at this location, as part of the river-widening scheme. Excavation followed on from an underwater assessment of the site in 2000 by Niall Brady (Excavations 2000, No. 549, 00D033).

Background
This site is within the medieval city of Kilkenny, on the right bank of the River Nore, along the approximate line of the eastern ‘High Town’ or ‘English Town’ of the riverside medieval town wall. The earliest reference to a quay at this location is in the 17th century, when the New Quay was built to link the river to the fish market, ‘The Shambles’, at the junction of Parliament Street, St Kieran’s Street and High Street. This is clearly marked on Rocque’s map of 1758. Bateman Quay is a 20th-century amalgamation of a series of perpendicular garden plots (probably medieval burgage plots) extending from Parliament Street/St Kieran’s Street to the riverbank. By the early 19th century some of these garden plots possessed a riverside Teahouse or Pleasure House with associated pier or jetty, which are clearly marked on the first and/or second edition Ordnance Survey maps. Of these, two such buildings survive today as a fully restored single-storey teahouse (site code NOR-7) and a ruinous gazebo (site code NOR-6). Two unassociated riverside jetties were also noted in assessment (site codes NOR-9 and NOR-10); both were subject to full excavation in advance of development (see Excavations 2001, Nos 695 and 704).

Methodology
Because of the nature of this site, with its proximity to the river and abundance of services, excavation, both underwater and land-based, was undertaken in stages. Two linear cuttings were opened by hand on either side of the riverside revetment wall, followed by a stone-by-stone record of the structure and the adjacent gazebo building, which lie outside the development.

Results
Trench 1 measured 6m east–west by 2.7m, was 2.5m deep, and was opened at the junction of the wall and gazebo building, on the landward side of the riverside wall. Excavation revealed a series of modern and early modern dump or land reclamation deposits, plus modern intrusive concrete beams and service trenches. The riverside wall was 13.5m in external diameter, 7m wide, 0.65–0.8m thick and 3.5m in excavated height, and was constructed of random-rubble mortared limestone, with two inner plinths and one outer plinth at a level between the two. The wall abutted and post-dated the adjacent gazebo, which can be cartographically and stylistically dated to the late 18th or early 19th century. The lower foundations of the gazebo were revealed as a random mortared rubble boot, but excavation did not penetrate deep enough to establish the depth of the riverside wall.

Trench 2 was 8m long (east–west), 1–3.5m wide and 1m deep, and was opened within the riverbed extending west from the base of the riverside wall into the riverbed. Excavation revealed a stratigraphy of modern river silts and gravels. The riverside wall extends more than 1m in depth below the accumulated overburden at its base, with an outer plinth identified. Overburden is a mixture of surface clay overlying what appears to be a level of rock-armouring. Because of the unstable nature of the wall, and of the overburden at its base, it was not possible to excavate to further depths in this location.

Gazebo
The gazebo structure is built of coursed limestone rubble with fine dressed quoins. As it is outside the development area it is not currently under threat. However, a full building survey was undertaken of this structure, which is in very poor repair. The building is roughly rectangular in plan, 5.8–5.9m long (north–south), 4.85m wide and 7.55m high to its eaves, with a hipped (north–south) slate roof and single chimney-stack on the east wall.

The south-facing front wall has a large rectangular doorway (presumably once a Georgian-style framed doorway) at first-floor level, with associated limestone flag steps 1.4m wide. The back wall contains a large rectangular window, now missing. The side (west-facing) wall has a simple stone-headed door and window on the ground floor. But the interior of this wall contains a large, blank, rounded-headed recess (to house a large fresco perhaps?). The riverside (east-facing) wall is blank, with small brick fireplaces and chimney-stack.

The partially damaged roof contains a fine Victorian stucco-type plastered ceiling (60% complete), with floral roundel and elaborate coving, similar to that in Bridge House, John’s Street, Kilkenny. The interior structural timbers, floor joists and roof timbers have been burned, and any decorated plaster on the walls has been lost; however, the ceiling shows no sign of blackening, suggesting the blaze occurred after abandonment.

This structure appears contemporary with a renovated example known as the Tea-House to the south (site code NOR-7) and also with an excavated example at jetty NOR-9 (see Excavations 2001, No. 695).

Conclusion
Full resolution of this site is subject to disconnection and dismantling of electricity, telecom and river-monitoring services. However, it is hoped that full excavation will be allowed to recommence in the spring of 2002.

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