County: Galway Site name: GALWAY: Spanish Parade
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E1809
Author: Declan Moore, Moore Archaeological & Environmental Services Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 529647m, N 724971m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.270404, -9.054705
Monitoring of advance excavation works for the basement area of the proposed new City Museum at Spanish Parade, Galway, was carried out during November 2003 on behalf of Galway City Council and the Office of Public Works.
The foundation and plinth of a 19th-century house, which is evident on the 1830s OS map, was recorded at the northern end of the site. Towards the south-east sector of the site, a probable late 18th/early 19th-century wall was recorded. It was similar in construction to the rectangular structure described above, with a shallow foundation built onto a loose plinth. A low arched culvert was visible to the south. Two possibly earlier (possibly medieval) components were visible in the arch. These stones were tooled and probably demonstrate reuse of available materials.
The area of the basement was excavated to a maximum depth of 3m below modern ground level. The bulk of the area was disturbed, comprising large post-medieval and modern pits and fills. The fills were largely comprised of rubble, red brick, silts and sands, along with occasional medium to large worked and unworked angular stones. These stones were recovered and put aside. It is possible that several of them may derive from the demolition of the city wall.
Corporate House, Ballybrit Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway
