2003:545 - DUBLIN: 60–62 The Lotts, Liffey Street, Dublin

Testing was undertaken at the site of a proposed development at Nos 60–62 The Lotts, Dublin 1, between 27 and 28 January 2003. The site is within the zone of archaeological potential for Dublin city centre. The testing was carried out, as a basement was included in the proposed development, which will result in ground disturbance to a depth of 3.2m below present ground level.

Two test-trenches were inserted subsequent to the demolition of the houses. Trench A was oriented north–south and revealed two walls which respect the outline of the foundation walls of No. 60 The Lotts. The walls reached a depth which suggested the location of a basement, also suggested from the difference in fills separated by the wall. The abundance of finds in the dump fill to the north of the east–west-orientated wall suggested this to be infill associated with land reclamation. Trench B was inserted parallel with the street and revealed the dividing walls and the back wall of the demolished buildings of Nos 60–62 The Lotts. Basements were confirmed at the location of Nos 62 and 61 and also possibly at No. 60. There was no evidence for a basement beyond the northern extent of the now demolished structures, where a small yard was situated. Rubble and remains of basements associated with the demolished buildings are of probable 18th- to 19th-century date and reached a depth of 2.3m. Below this and at the water table was a dark-grey clayey silt, likely to be riverine deposits, which will be impacted upon by the proposed development.

The finds retrieved from the dump layers to the north of the basement areas used for landfill consisted mainly of pottery, forming an interesting assemblage of post-medieval and early modern ceramics. Some of the glass bottles found are likely to be associated with the wine stores and glass manufacturers for which The Lotts were known from the turn of the 19th century. In the 1850s there were at least eight wine vaults and stores in The Lotts, mostly serving businesses on Abbey Street. Several of the glass bottles were bell-shaped and of early 18th-century date.

Conclusions drawn from historical sources indicate that the area north of the Liffey was undeveloped until the 17th century, to a large extent due to the marshy nature of terrain and it being prone to flooding. Land reclamation in the post-medieval period was followed by a rapid development of the area, which can be identified from the cartographic sources. Previous investigations in the area have mainly produced evidence of post-medieval land reclamation and 18th-century house foundations, which concurs with the result of the testing programme.

32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2