2003:943 - LADYCASTLE LOWER, Kildare

Pre-development testing by Angela Wallace carried out in September 2002 established the presence of significant remains of medieval date adjacent to the site of an Anglo-Norman motte (Excavations 2003, No. 950, 02E1513). The rescue excavation was carried out in advance of the development of golf facilities consisting of a clubhouse, access road and related development.

The motte is located on the south bank of the River Liffey, on the grounds of the south course of the K Club, Ladycastle Lower. Excavation commenced in three separate cuttings (Areas A–C) to the south and south-west of the motte and to the north of a largely demolished farm complex, which is depicted on the first-edition OS map. A further cutting was opened after monitoring in the vicinity (No. 942, Excavations 2003) identified additional archaeological deposits (Area D).

Excavation in Area A revealed structural remains of medieval date, compacted into a low irregular mound, consisting of medieval crested ridge tiles, perforated roofing slate and pockets of decayed mortar, c. 35–40m from the edge of the motte. The heavily disturbed remains of two clay-bonded stone walls or wall footings were exposed, in addition to other deposits of stone, suggesting a structure with minimum dimensions of 12m by 3m.

Excavations in Areas B and C exposed the scattered remains of metalled surfaces and build debris of post-medieval date, apparently associated with the demolished farm complex depicted on the first-edition OS maps, of which one solitary brick building remains intact. The foundation trench of one building was also exposed.

Clearance in Area D, c. 20m to the south of the possible structure in Area A, exposed a substantial ditch (5.5m wide, c. 2.2m deep, exposed to 45m extent with the development area) orientated north-west/south-east. The ditch appeared to be of medieval date and extended under the complex of post-medieval farm buildings. The only significant finds recovered from an excavated section were a perforated rooting slate and a fragment of human skull; the roofing slate suggesting the ditch was backfilled some time after the abandonment of the adjacent medieval structure.

Finds recovered from the site include 280 sherds of medieval pottery, 175 fragments of roof tile, 345 roofing slates and 263 fragments of post-medieval pottery.

There are a number of references to Ladycastle as a manorial entity throughout the later medieval period and the motte may originally have functioned as a manorial centre. Despite the disturbed nature of the material, the quality of the ceramic assemblage, and its concentration, suggests a building of some substance directly associated with occupation of the adjacent motte castle. Only a limited section of the adjacent ditch was exposed, but its dimensions suggest a significant boundary or enclosing feature, also associated with occupation of the motte castle.

Noble and Keenan’s map of 1752 depicts a building on the south bank of the river opposite Straffan House, suggesting a farm was in existence from the first half of the 18th century. Alexander Taylor’s map of 1783 depicts no structure but does depict a quarry in the immediate vicinity of the motte; the RMP also suggests that the large cavity to the east of the motte may represent a later quarry. This may have accounted for the heavily disturbed nature of the deposits.

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