County: Meath Site name: ATHBOY: Bridge Street Lower
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 29:23 Licence number: 00E0109 ext.
Author: Robert O’Hara, ACS Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 672128m, N 764529m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.625600, -6.909624
An assessment was carried out at Lower Bridge Street, Athboy, Co. Meath, on the site of the former corn mill on the western banks of the Tremblestown (or Athboy) River. The assessment was the third undertaken at the site, Ian Russell having carried out work there previously (Excavations 2000, No. 744). Planning permission was granted for ten two-storey townhouses and the change of use of existing warehouse buildings to twenty duplex units and twenty apartments, with provision for 51 car-parking spaces, new entrances and ancillary services. A decision by the developer to alter the layout of the proposed development has led to a new planning submission. Ground level before trenching began was c. 66.3m OD. As three trenches had previously been excavated under the same licence, the new trenches were designated Trenches 4 and 5.
Trench 4 was oriented east–west and spanned the former area of Structure 4. It was 29m long, 2m wide and 1.8–2m deep (maximum 64.28m OD). The trench was composed mostly of overburden and demolished remains and contained red brick, concrete, structural timbers, scrap metal and plastic. No archaeological material was recovered, and natural gravel deposits were encountered at 2m below ground level.
Trench 5, a dogleg return to Trench 4, measured 12m north–south by 2m and was 1.8–1.9m deep (maximum 64.36m OD). Once again, constructional overburden was found throughout the trench, directly overlying natural gravel deposits at c. 1.8m below ground level. No archaeological material was recovered.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
