County: Westmeath Site name: ATHLONE: Preaching Lane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: RMP 29:42 Licence number: 01E0926
Author: Billy Quinn
Site type: Town
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 604037m, N 741552m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.424067, -7.939255
Pre-development testing on the site of a proposed ESB substation at Preaching Lane, off Church Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, was carried out between 27 September and 2 October 2001 owing to the location of the proposed development within the zone of archaeological potential for Athlone town. Prior to the demolition of the old ESB substation the site, enclosed by block walls, contained a switchroom to the south, opening onto a yard area with a shed, a utility room and a toilet outhouse to the north.
Two trial-trenches, 10m long by 1.1m deep, were excavated through the yard area of the site, exposing a stratigraphy of modern backfill under a thick concrete layer. All the finds recovered were modern in date, including pottery and glass sherds and red brick fragments.
ASU Ltd, Purcell House, Oranmore, Co. Galway
