2002:0258 - CASTLEHYDE HOUSE, Castlehyde East, Cork

During renovation work at Castlehyde House, Castlehyde East, Fermoy, a large, stone-lined drain was identified in the basement of the country house. A small excavation was undertaken on this feature to assess its extent and date before renovation. The drain (F1) first ran under the eastern pavilion of the house. It was 0.64m wide and 1m high and ran for a distance of 22.54m, curving gradually to the south-east toward the River Blackwater. The fall of ground was to the south-east, toward the river. The drain was of drystone construction and was roofed with large lintels. The floor was light brown, stony gravel onto which a layer of silt, 0.01m thick, had been deposited. There was no evidence of the floor having been lined with stone or slabs. This length of the drain had been breached at the eastern end wall of the eastern pavilion of the house, which obviously preceded it in date.

Part of the northern wall of F1 was breached to allow a later drain to open into it. This later drain was of brick, stone and mortar; the floor was slab lined and the roof lintelled. It could be followed only for a distance of 5.8m before it decreased significantly in size. A blocked opening was apparent through the northern wall of the drain, east of the previously mentioned opening. The opening was blocked with stone and mortar but may have been an interconnected drain.

During excavation in the garden area, F1 was found to continue outside the house and on toward the river. The external length of the drain ran for a distance of 28.22m to the south-east. It had been blocked with stone (probably deliberately) c. 10m from the river.

It is likely that the drain was contemporary with Castlehyde House; the later extension to the house of the eastern and western pavilions caused its partial destruction, and thus the drain must have been out of use when the pavilion extensions were built.

AE House, Monahan Road, Cork