2002:1477 - KELLS: Sisters of Mercy Convent, Kenlis Place, Meath

The site of a proposed new residence and associated site works in the grounds of the Sisters of Mercy convent, Kenlis Place, Kells, Co. Meath, was tested by seven mechanically excavated trenches. The site is within the zone of archaeological potential of Kells. The conjectural position of the town wall is along or close to the line of the northern perimeter wall of the convent garden, based on property boundaries of 1762 (Simms 1990). The present perimeter wall is of mass-concrete construction.

An old school building and a series of agricultural buildings are shown on the site on the 1910 OS map; the school was demolished in the early 1980s, and the land was planted as a garden for the convent. The land to the south-east of the garden is used for grazing.

Three test-trenches were opened along the eastern boundary wall of the site. They revealed a cobbled surface at 1.2m below present ground level. The association between the cobbled surface and the stone foundations of the old school could not be ascertained by excavation. The remaining trenches in the area revealed heavily disturbed ground with infilled building debris.

Two trenches excavated in the garden revealed a thick organic topsoil with several fragments of 20th-century pottery and modern glass. One trench was excavated in the field, and another in the associated yard; the latter revealed a black organic lens consisting of a stony soil that produced a single piece of animal bone.

The test-trenches revealed no evidence of the medieval town wall. If it passed through the site, it had probably been removed before the construction of the school. On the basis of the discovery of the cobbled area, it was recommended that the construction of the foundations be monitored to ascertain its full significance.

Reference
Simms, A. 1990 Kells. Irish Historic Towns Atlas No. 4. Dublin.

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