2001:1060 - TRIM: Friar’s Park, Abbey Lane, Meath

An assessment was carried out on a proposed residential development site at Friar’s Park, Abbey Lane, Trim. The site is within the zone of archaeological potential around Trim as identified in the Urban Archaeological Survey of County Meath. It is also near Talbot’s Castle, which contains some 15th-century fabric. In 1998 an assessment carried out on this site by Matthew Seaver revealed archaeological material (Excavations 1998, No. 527), but an impact assessment for the proposed development could not be provided in the absence of development design plans (four test-trenches were excavated). Further testing was, however, requested and was carried out in October 2001. An additional nine test-trenches were excavated (5–14 [13 was an extension of Trench 6]). A detailed impact statement cannot be prepared as detailed site plans are still not available. Substantial archaeological deposits were uncovered, including several masonry walls. Though the development is being designed to minimise the impact on archaeological material, further resolution may be necessary once an impact statement can be prepared.

A probable boundary wall was exposed in Trench 5 and consisted of the remains of a wall which entered the west end of the trench from the north and proceeded east along the line of the trench, returning southwards at the east end of the trench. It would appear that this wall once joined up with the north–south wall F910 (Trench 9) and the wall F905 (Trench 9), which lay further south, thereby forming a property boundary wall (possibly a burgage plot). A layer of rubble lay immediately west of a portion of the wall and probably represents rubble demolition.

Trench 6 was excavated in two sections (A and B) owing to the presence of an active sewerage pipe. In Section A, an east–west linear feature was exposed at a depth of 1.2m within the northern end of the trench. This feature was cut into the natural boulder clay and extended beyond the western and eastern baulk. A cobbled surface with a retaining kerb was exposed at a depth of 1.3–1.4m to the south. Both the cobbled surface and the kerb extended beneath the eastern and western baulk. An east–west clay-bonded wall was exposed at a depth of 1.3m immediately south of the cobbled surface. This wall extended beneath the western baulk and returned south. The return of this wall was not extensive and only measured 0.45m in length, 0.8m in width and 0.15m in height. Garden soil overlay all the features exposed within this trench.

Section B was excavated 2.47m south of Section A. This trench was excavated to a maximum depth of 1.6m. No features of archaeological significance were exposed owing to the presence of an inactive sewerage pipe at the base of the trench. The fill of this trench consisted of made-up ground and backfill—rubble, plastic bags, lumps of plastic and general rubbish mixed with garden soil.

The majority of the archaeology exposed in Trench 7 was only visible in section to the east. This consisted of the lower course of the boundary wall, which overlay medieval garden soil. This in turn overlay a layer of cobbles, which was also visible in section to the south. The cobbles overlay a silty clay layer, which in turn sealed a clay floor. A medieval occupation layer was visible beneath the clay floor and extended westwards within the trench for 2.9m. This layer was exposed at a depth of 1.1m. A single course of a medieval stone wall was exposed along the northern edge of this trench at a depth of 1.2m. This wall was exposed below the occupation layer and defined the extent of the clay floor. The boundary wall was therefore earlier than the occupation layer. A second wall, F706, was exposed immediately beneath the topsoil. It was aligned east–west and extended westwards for 3m from the boundary wall. Another wall, F706B, which was parallel to and appeared to be related to F706A, was exposed 4.2m south of it. F706B lay directly beneath the sod and was exposed during ground clearance.

The stratigraphy exposed within Trench 7 was only visible in section—it is fully intact beneath the boundary wall and partially intact beneath wall F706. The area was quite disturbed and it would appear that the archaeological deposits—aside from the occupation layer—were removed at some stage in the post-medieval/modern period either by the destruction of wall F707 or by the erection of wall F706A.

The base of the boundary wall was exposed along the eastern edge of Trench 8. No other features of archaeological significance were exposed as this area also appeared to be reclaimed land. The fill of this trench consisted of rubble and backfill.

Trench 9 was excavated in two sections (A and B) owing to the presence of an active sewerage pipe. In Section A a cobbled surface was exposed to the north at a depth of 1.2m. These cobbles sloped southwards. A kerb delimited the extent of the cobbles to the west and they extended as far as a stone wall to the east. The kerb was probably once connected to the kerb in Trench 12. The wall was probably once connected to the wall in Trench 9, Section B, which itself was probably once connected to that in Trench 5. A second wall defined the southern edge of the cobbled surface and was probably once connected to the wall in Trench 12. This wall was exposed at a depth of 1.8m and was aligned east–west. The wall F905 extended beneath the eastern and western baulk. A third wall was exposed south of the second at a depth of 1.9–2m. This wall was aligned north–south and was visible in the east-facing section of Trench 9. Garden soil overlay the cobbles, the kerb and the first two walls, whilst a rubble layer overlay the third wall. Silt was exposed within the southern part of the trench.

Section B was located 2.4m north of Section A. A wall was exposed at a depth of 0.8m. The main portion of this wall was aligned north–south but a possible return westwards was also visible. This wall was exposed below the garden soil and was quite disturbed.

Two features of archaeological significance were exposed within Trench 10, in its southern part. A linear feature, F1004, was exposed at a depth of 2.1m and was aligned east–west. It was cut into the natural boulder clay and extended beneath the eastern and western baulk. It was not, however, visible in Trench 11, which was excavated east of Trench 10, or in Trench 9, which was excavated west of Trench 10. A small portion of this feature was excavated and it appeared to have once held a palisade. F1005 was exposed immediately south of F1004 and was also cut into the boulder clay. It was aligned north–south and sloped towards the original line of the river, which was just outside the southern end of the trench.

Four features of archaeological significance were exposed within Trench 11. The linear feature F1104 was exposed towards the centre of the trench and extended southwards for approximately 9m. This feature resembled a cultivation furrow which was cut into the natural boulder clay and was cut by the pit F1105. F1105 was exposed towards the southern edge of the trench at a depth of 1.2m and lay 1.3m north of pit F1107. This pit was quite irregular in shape and extended beneath the western baulk. The original line of the river was exposed south of F1106 at a depth of 1.55m and was visible as a sudden drop in the natural. It was directly aligned with wall F906 (Trench 9). Garden soil overlay all of the aforementioned features.

Three features of archaeological significance were exposed within Trench 12. A cobbled surface was exposed at a depth of 1.4–1.5m and was similar to that in Trench 9. A kerb defined its southern edge and was probably once connected to the kerb in Trench 9. A stone wall was exposed at a depth of 1.8m, 2.4m south of the cobbled surface. It was aligned east–west and extended beneath the eastern baulk. It was visible in Trench 9 to the east as F906. Garden soil overlay these features.

Trench 14 was a test-hole excavated to expose the face of wall F1401, which lay directly below the sod. This feature was exposed during ground clearance; it appeared to form the back wall of a structure and was probably related to walls F706A and B.

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