County: Meath Site name: NAVAN: Abbey Road
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1456
Author: Ian Russell, ACS Ltd.
Site type: Town defences
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 687152m, N 768300m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.657200, -6.681496
This excavation was conducted as part of a proposed strategy for mitigating the impact of a proposed development on archaeological remains at Abbey Road, Navan, Co. Meath. An initial assessment of the site conducted by Donald Murphy in 2000 (Excavations 2000, No. 766, 00E0767) revealed a number of possible archaeological features and a section of a possible robber trench along the suspected line of the town wall. A standing part of town wall, which contains a semicircular bastion, runs along the north-eastern corner of the site. After the submission of the planning application and the assessment report, Dúchas recommended refusal. At a subsequent meeting with Dúchas on 27 August 2002 (sought to clarify its views), it was requested that a strategy for mitigating the impact of the development on the known archaeology be submitted for consideration. This strategy was to include further excavation of the features identified during the initial assessment and a redesign of the development in the area of the town wall to reduce the visual impact of a proposed plant room.
Only two ditches, both medieval, were exposed and excavated within the site. Early and late medieval pottery and animal bone were recovered from the fill. Both ditches appeared to be slightly curved and continued into the adjacent garden to the south-east. They were also observed in section at the shopping-centre carpark to the south. It is likely that both ditches functioned as a form of early medieval defence during the early stages of the development of Navan.
No trace of the robber trench was exposed during the excavation because of restrictions caused by the insertion of ESB ducting since the assessment in 2000, which prevented excavation in this area to the north of the site. It is not known what impact the insertion of this ducting has had on the possible robber trench, but it is likely that it will be exposed during any future groundworks. Consequently, it is recommended that pre-construction excavation of this feature should take place if permission is granted. It is highly unlikely that any part of the town wall survives below ground.
No demolition work is proposed for the post-medieval boundary walls near the medieval town wall. The proposed plant room will be moved further back from the town wall and will not have a negative visual impact on the town wall when viewed from the road level. It is proposed to pave the area surrounding the town wall.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
