2002:1322 - DROGHEDA: 24–25 West Street/Stockwell Lane, Louth

An excavation took place at the site of a proposed development at 24–25 West Street/Stockwell Lane, Drogheda, Co. Louth. An architectural assessment of the extant structures at the site was carried out in January 2002 before their demolition. That report concluded that both structures were of 18th-century date, although there was evidence of the possible reuse of earlier building material.

An assessment of the proposed development was also undertaken, in July 2002, after the demolition of the existing superstructures (No. 1321, Excavations 2002 02E1055). It established that the basement of No. 25 had cut through to natural, and no archaeological material survived in this part of the site. However, No. 24 did not have a basement, and it was established that significant archaeological deposits survived in this part of the site. As the development would have a significant negative impact on this material, full excavation of this area was recommended.

The site comprised an area measuring c. 10.5m by 4m, approximating the footprint of No. 24 West Street, and was sealed by a layer of modern rubble and debris as a result of the demolition of the existing buildings at the site.

The excavation was carried out in two phases in order to decide whether the structural remains at the site warranted preservation in situ. In the end it was agreed that all archaeological material at No. 24 would be excavated before the start of development works. Phase 1 took place between 13 and 22 August 2002, and Phase 2 between 18 September and 5 October 2002.

The evidence from the excavation indicated seven broad phases of activity at the site, ranging from the medieval period to modern times. However, as analysis of the finds and samples recovered from the excavation progresses, this stratigraphic sequence may be refined.

Phase I: medieval
The earliest phase of activity was characterised mainly by a pair of intercut pits (C40 and C50) in the southern half of the site. Both were heavily truncated on the south by modern activity (C34 and C36) relating to Phase VII and on the west by the basement of No. 25 West Street. The earlier pit, C40, was heavily truncated by C50, and it was impossible to determine its original shape. C50 was much more substantial, though truncated on the north by activity relating to Phases II and III. The surviving section of the pit indicated that it was sub-oval, measuring a minimum of 2.5m by 1m by 0.6m deep. Both pits were filled by a series of layers of material, all of which produced charcoal, bone and shell, as well as quantities of medieval pottery, suggesting that they were refuse pits.

Also relating to this phase of activity was a thin layer of burning, C71, north-east of the two pits. This appeared to be the earliest manifestation of the burnt laminated layers that characterised the eastern side of the site in later phases. C71 directly sealed C162, a layer of pink/yellow sandy clay that may be the remains of an original sod layer at the site. Though not obviously a natural formation, C162 was quite sterile and undifferentiated. It appeared to have extended originally over most of the site and directly sealed natural strata.

At the West Street frontage, at the very northern end of the site, a compacted layer of mixed cobbles and green/brown, organic, silty clay extended across the site and for 1.1m south from the limit of excavation. The later layer C62 appeared to overlie slightly and merge into this deposit. Although initially the cobbles suggested that this might be a surface or series of surfaces, there were no clear divisions or indications of stratified layers in the deposition of the cobbles.

Phase II: medieval
Phase II was characterised mainly by a substantial pit, C110, which partially truncated the earlier pits in the south of the site. Also associated with this phase of activity were the remains of a hearth and the earliest in a sequence of small stake-holes in the eastern half of the site.
C110 was in the southern half of the site and was the most substantial surviving feature. It comprised the remains of a large subcircular pit measuring 3m by 2.7m, with a maximum depth of 1.5m, truncated on the west by the basement of No. 25 West Street. The pit contained a series of deep, charcoal-rich, organic fills that produced animal bone and shell, as well as medieval pottery and ferrous material. A substantial layer of redeposited natural clay, C108, was encountered partially sealing the first three fills. It seems likely that this represents an attempt to seal the pit. However, it appeared to have subsided into the pit. A thin layer of charcoal sealed the eastern two-thirds of C108. This layer was quite similar to the layers that comprised the laminated burnt surfaces over the eastern side of the site in later phases, suggesting that it related to similar activity, reinforcing the interpretation of C108 as an attempt to seal the pit.

Fifteen small stake-holes, spread across the eastern side of the site only, were associated with this phase of activity. No clear structure could be discerned from them. Also associated with this was what appeared to be the remains of a hearth, characterised by a spread of burnt clay sealed by a layer of black/grey silty clay, flecked with yellow clay and oxidised clay.

Phase III: medieval
Phase III at the site was characterised by a more complex series of features, which included the partial recut of C110 (C98). This phase provided the earliest distinct evidence of the plot division at the site that continued into Phases IV and V.

C98 was an elongated oval cut into the eastern side of C110, to allow for the insertion of C150, a rough, clay-bonded stone wall. C150 roughly respected the original shape of C110 and appeared to have been inserted in order to revet the remaining fill of C110. There were no indications that this wall extended beyond the limit of C110. The alignment of C150 was quite different from that of the later wall, C25, so it is unlikely that it represents a foundation for it.

C98 was backfilled with a series of organic, charcoal-rich deposits, which produced medieval pottery and ferrous material, and was partially sealed by the remains of a possible hearth on the south-east.

A series of compacted stony layers was recorded from the upper levels of C110 that respected the line of C150. These appeared to be the remains of a series of metalled surfaces that subsided into C110. It is possible that one or more of these layers relate to C161, a layer of small pebbles, very closely spaced and very compact, set in light, sandy, brown clay. This appeared to be the remains of a metalled surface that extended north from C110 along the same alignment as the surfaces that had subsided into the pit.

Slightly north of C110 and immediately east of C161 a rectangular post-pad was identified that contained the remains of the end of a wooden post.

Approximately 2m to the north of this were the remains of a post-hole with a large packing stone. These may be the remnants of a fence or similar structure delimiting the plot.
An occupation layer, C62, sealed the Phase II stake-holes on the eastern side of the site.

Phase IV: medieval
Phase IV represented the final phase of medieval activity at the site. It was characterised by the presence of a wall, C25, that bisected the site and reinforced the plot division established in Phase III. C25 was a north–south-oriented wall footing with evidence of a return at its northern end, running east. It bisected the excavation area and was 6.25m long, with a maximum width of 0.6m and surviving height of 0.4m. It comprised a combination of rough stone blocks and small irregular stones, in one surviving course. Although there were indications of the use of mortar, most of the surviving walling appeared to have been bonded with clay. The construction cut for the wall truncated C62. The return at the northern end of C25 had been partially incorporated in the later, 18th-century foundations, C9.

Although C25 followed a similar line to the section of walling cut down into C110 (C150), there were no indications of a direct link between the two. It seems likely that the positioning of both features relates more to the emerging medieval plot division.

To the west of C25, and apparently contemporary with it, was a series of metalled surfaces. These reflected the line of the Phase III surface (C161), and the earliest of them, C95, had subsided into the upper part of C110. C96 and C97 were localised in the area above C110 and appeared to have been a response to subsidence in that area. The latest surface in the series (C30) comprised a thin layer of compact, yellow/grey, clayey sand. This was the only layer that did not subside into C110 to any significant degree.

On the eastern side of C25 was evidence of the build-up of a significant depth of burnt material against C25. These deposits comprised a series of localised layers or dumps of charcoal-rich material, ash and oxidised clay that overlay C62. These deposits had built up against the wall, becoming laminated by the pressure of continued occupation and activity. They appeared to be the rake-out of a hearth or series of hearths, although no obvious hearth was identified. A miscellaneous collection of animal bone was recovered from some of the deposits, apparently consistent with domestic activity.

Also to the east of C25 was a series of 22 stake-holes cut into C62. There were indications that some of the laminated burnt deposits had also formed casts around some of the stakes. As with the earlier series of stake-holes, no clear structure could be discerned.

Phase V: early post-medieval
Phase V represented the earliest post-medieval activity and was characterised by the remains of a building in the south-east corner of the site. Dumps of mortar or render were recorded immediately east and west of C25, sealed under C16, which may be related to the removal or destruction of the superstructure of C25.

In the south-east corner of the site a series of mortared stone walls was identified. C41 was a mortared stone wall running north–south for 1.6m just inside the line of the basement wall of No. 23 West Street. There were indications of a return at the northern end, running east. The wall appeared to extend south into the rear garden of No. 23, and it may have been partially incorporated in the basement wall of that building.

Approximately halfway along its length a second wall was recorded, running east–west (C54), again of mortared stone construction. A third mortared stone wall extended south from the western end of C54, parallel to C41. At a later date a single-course, mortared stone revetment (C129) was inserted running west from the northern end of C41, with a return to the south linking it to the junction of C53 and C54. This created two small enclosed areas in this part of the site.

The northern area contained a very compact and concreted layer of mixed clay and mortar that appeared to be the remains of a rough surface or the bedding for some kind of flooring.

Beneath this was a compacted layer of yellow clay that was delimited and retained by the low revetment, C129.

The southern area contained a dump of loose clay and stone rubble, including one piece of dressed stone. When this material was removed, the remains of a tiled pavement were uncovered. It comprised 27 tiles (counting each half tile as one), with two rows of six tiles plus a half tile in situ and the remains of two further rows slightly displaced. A further three displaced tiles were recovered overlying the pavement. The pavement appeared to be contemporary with the three walls that enclosed it (C41, C54 and C53) and seemed to represent the northern end of a tiled corridor that extended south beyond the limits of the present development site, into the rear garden of No. 23 West Street.

Seven distinct tile patterns have been recorded from the pavement. Five of these have been catalogued by Fanning and Eames (1988), and a sixth bears strong resemblance to one of the catalogued designs. Pattern 1, the most common pattern, with ten instances in the pavement, has no comparanda in the published catalogue; however, fragmentary examples of this design have been identified on tiles excavated at the site of St Mary d’Urso, Drogheda (Halpin 1996). The pattern had been noted on wasters associated with the possible tile kiln at this site, suggesting that this tile is of local manufacture. Pattern 1 is a relief tile, showing a lion’s head in a circular setting surrounded by a complex vine pattern. The nature of the decoration suggests a late date, but this is not confirmed.

Several of the tile patterns were designed to create a continuous motif, although they are not used in this fashion here. The large number of patterns and the disordered arrangement may indicate that the tiles were salvaged from other buildings and that this pavement represents a secondary usage. The five previously recorded patterns are well attested from sites in and around Drogheda (Fanning and Eames 1988). The most significant tile pattern with regard to dating is Pattern 6 (R68: Fanning and Eames 1988), a relief tile decorated with interlace Tudor rose and fleur-de-lis. It has been suggested that this pattern is an early 16th-century import (Fanning and Eames 1988), which would give a relatively late date for the pavement, probably no earlier than the mid-16th century.

Although a deposit of dark silty clay had built up around the tiles (probably owing to occupation activity), the pavement was set in a very compact, white, gravelly mortar onto a single, large, limestone slab. This slab was keyed into the surrounding walls, C53 and C54, and extended south beyond the limit of excavation into the rear garden of No. 23 West Street. Because of the disturbance caused by the construction of the 18th-century building, it is difficult to ascertain the exact relationship between this building in the south-east of the site and activity across the north of the site. Certainly its position and orientation appear to reflect the same plot layout as in Phases III and IV.

Dumps of mortar or render were recorded immediately overlying both the latest of the metalled surfaces and the burnt layers, which may reflect the demolition of the superstructure of C25. A robber cut that removed the northern section of this wall was also recorded.

Most of the north of the site was then sealed with a layer of mid-brown, clayey silt with occasional small stones and animal bone, C16. However, it is probable that this reflects activity later than the building in the south-east of the site and that C16 reflects a levelling of the site for the later cobbled laneway (see below). The south of the site (including the early post-medieval building) was sealed by a layer of loose, mortary clay with occasional roof slates, which appears to reflect the same activity as C16.

Phase VI: cobbled laneway
Phase VI was characterised by the presence of a cobbled laneway across the whole of the excavation area and represented the earliest manifestation of the modern plot division at the site. The cobbled surface (C8) directly overlay C16 and immediately pre-dated the 18th-century building at the site (see below). Although it had been heavily truncated by the insertion of that building, the cobbled surface appeared originally to have extended across the whole of the area comprising the footprint of No. 24 West Street. It seems likely that this laneway continued to the south of the site, to the rear of the buildings fronting onto Stockwell Lane.

Phase VII: late 18th century to present
The final phase of activity at the site was characterised by the construction of No. 24 West Street in the mid- to late 18th century to fill in the earlier laneway. This building survived to the present day. The eastern foundation comprised a shallow brick footing. The western foundation had been completely removed during the demolition process but was likely to have been quite similar. However, the northern and southern foundation each comprised a substantial mortared stone wall. This suggests that these were the main load-bearing walls of the building. A large disturbance cut across the south of the site appeared to be associated with the insertion of this building. It truncated the earlier cobbled surface (C8) to the depth of the underlying clay layer (C16).

Discussion
Investigations along West Street to date have been very limited, with little indications of extensive surviving archaeological material; most of the existing buildings along the street have basements, dating from as early as the 18th century. The excavations at 24–25 West Street/Stockwell Lane have offered a unique opportunity to examine and analyse the development of this section of West Street from the earliest development of the area in the medieval period.

The first four phases of activity at the site appear to date to the medieval period, with the final three phases being post-medieval. Phase VII, the final phase of activity at the site, has been dated on the basis of the original building at the site, suggesting a construction date in the mid- to late 18th century.

Phase VI, characterised by the cobbled laneway, is again dated relative to the original building at the site. The laneway reflects the same plot division as the 18th-century buildings and immediately preceded the construction of the original building at the site, suggesting a late 17th- to early 18th-century date.

Phase V has been dated to the early post-medieval period. One of the most significant features from this phase was the structure with associated tiled pavement identified in the south-east of the site. Although the medieval tiles that form the pavement date to as early as the 13th century, their disposition at the site clearly indicated a secondary usage.

Analysis of the pottery remains at the site has yet to be completed; however, a preliminary examination indicates that the earliest activity dates to the 13th century.

The excavation suggests that initially this section of West Street was rather undeveloped and that the emergence of formal plot boundaries and the development of those plots was a gradual process.

As the main deposit of medieval occupation activity was localised in a narrow strip along the eastern side of the site, it is difficult to get a good flavour of the nature of the activity carried out at the site. The intensive layer of oxidised material and burnt deposits may be indicative of industrial activity at the site; however, there were no indications of the detritus normally associated with industrial processes. It is possible that the level of the oxidised deposits may simply reflect intensive domestic occupation over a long period of time.

The emergence of a formal plot division at the site also appears to relate directly to the intensification of activity during Phases II and III. This plot division appears to have been maintained consistently until the 17th century, when the cobbled laneway was created that is reflected in the modern plot layout along this section of West Street.

References
Fanning, T. and Eames, E.A. 1988 Irish medieval tiles. Dublin.
Halpin, E. 1996 Excavations at St Mary d’Urso, Drogheda, County Louth. County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal 23, 452–509.

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