2003:0236 - CORK: Washington Street, Cork

This licence, covering the Cork Main Drainage Scheme Contract II, was extended to include four additional slit-trenches to enable connection of small collector sewers into manholes at Trench 309 (junction of Washington Street and South Main Street) and Trench 310 (junction of Washington Street and Cross Street). These two locations were excavated in 2002 and the findings were significant, as they contained the remains of a Hiberno-Norse house and a mid-12th-century house (Excavations 2002, No. 289). Consequently every attempt was made by the developer to minimise the impact of the proposed 2003 works. Details of the trenches excavated during 2003 follow.

Trench 309 (1) was located north of No. 17–18 Washington Street. It was orientated east–west, measuring 9.5m by 1.1m and 1.5m in depth. The first 0.65m were previously disturbed by services, but below this a thin layer (20mm in depth) of grey-brown sand and ash was recorded directly on top of a mixed layer of mortar, ash and red sand fill (0.2m in depth). Directly below this a similar layer with red-brick fragments (0.35m) overlay an organic layer and an irregular spread of grey clay containing animal bone and fragments of oyster shell. This level was not excavated. It included hazelnut shells, animal bone, oyster and mussel shells and degraded wood material. Finds from this level included a stone bead and sherds of medieval Saintonge, post-medieval and modern pottery.

The north wall of a sandstone drain orientated east–west was uncovered in the north-east-facing baulk, below the modern road surface and fill material. The drain, dating to the 19th century, sloped from west to east. Below the level of the culvert two vertically set timber posts aligned east–west were uncovered set into the organic layer. Three smaller, poorly preserved, circular stakes were uncovered at the same level. Due to the confined limits of the excavation, interpretation of these features is not possible. They were recorded prior to covering with a protective layer before the trench was backfilled.

Trench 309 (2) extended from South Main Street across the junction to the south side of Washington Street. It was oriented north–south, measuring 7m by 3.6m by 4m in depth (maximum). The trench crossed a large 19th-century stone culvert that extends the full length of Washington Street (east–west), crossing the junction through a north–south chamber drain that extends the length of South Main Street. As the trench lay within the existing drain, the initial 1.7m was previously disturbed. Only the east wall of the drain was visible. Below the backfill, a black organic silt lay on top of a thin sterile brown clay (20mm). The silt is likely to represent the residue deposited by water flowing within the culvert. Below this, a greyish-blue estuarine clay layer with compressed organic material of twigs, moss, shells and some fragments of wood 60mm in depth was the lowest excavated layer.

Trench 310 (1) was located north of No. 24–26 Washington Street. It was orientated east–west, measuring 11.85m by 1.3m in width and 2m in depth. The upper 1m consisted of road infill and was greatly disturbed by services. Directly beneath was a silty clay layer with some oyster shell measuring 30mm in depth lying directly on top of the north wall of a stone culvert, oriented east–west. The culvert extended within the trench for 5m. Three courses were exposed to a height of 0.4m. The masonry was of very rough construction, consisting of large red sandstone capstones. Below this feature, estuarine clay, with some organic residue, small stones and oyster shell, was recorded.

Trench 310 (2) was located west of No. 26 Washington Street/Little Cross Street. It was orientated north–south, measuring 7m by 2.9m in width and c. 3.5 in depth. This trench had been previously excavated to an overall depth of c. 2.95m below ground level. Below the backfill material, consisting of the remnants of an east–west culvert, was a dark-brown clay with some oyster shells, measuring 0.45m in depth. Directly below this layer a greyish–blue estuarine clay measured 50mm in depth. A twelve-inch sewer pipe was recorded crossing the trench at a depth of 3.1m below ground level, orientated east–west.

Navigation House, Albert Quay, Cork