County: Dublin Site name: DUBLIN: 14–18 Aston Quay
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1621
Author: Teresa Bolger, c/o Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Historic town
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 715835m, N 734317m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.346382, -6.260297
An excavation and programme of monitoring were carried out at a development site at 14–18 Aston Quay, Dublin 2. The development involved the alteration and refurbishment of the extant structure at the site, including the lowering of the basement floor level for a new ground slab and the insertion of a swimming pool.
Previous monitoring of geotechnical investigations by Abi Cryerhall at the site took place in October and November 2002 (Excavations 2002, No. 514). Potential archaeological strata were noted in the trenches excavated. A full assessment was carried out in January 2003. It was established that substantial undisturbed deposits of land reclamation soils survived at the section of the basement corresponding to No. 18 Aston Quay, as well as possible structural remains. However, only very vestigial and disturbed remains of the land reclamation deposits could be identified over the remainder of the basement area
In 1899, a massive refurbishment of the existing structures at the block was carried out by McBirney, Collis and Co., in order to create the present structure. This involved the consolidation of the basements to form a single unit covering the entire block. It was during this refurbishment that the floor level in the majority of the basement was lowered to the present level. Only in a small section in the north-east corner of the basement (corresponding to the original No. 18 Aston Quay) was the original floor level maintained. This section of the basement was the subject of the present investigation.
Excavation took place in February and March 2003, followed by a programme of monitoring. Three phases of activity were identified at the site. The earliest was characterised by riverine clays covered by layers of dumped land reclamation material, which were in turn sealed by flood silts. The second phase of activity was mainly characterised by a series of structural walls, pre-dating the extant structure. These walls appear to relate to plot divisions at the site illustrated on survey plans held in the City Archives and dating to as late as 1823. The final phase was characterised by the construction of the extant structure at the site and the subsequent development and refurbishment of that structure.
Monitoring did not identify any archaeological features in the main basement area.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
