2004:1605 - GOLDEN: Hoop's Lot, Tipperary

Test excavations were carried out on behalf of Tipperary South Riding County Council at the site of a proposed wastewater treatment plant at Hoop's Lot, Golden, Co. Tipperary, in June 2003 (Excavations 2003, No. 1753). Four further trenches (roughly 1m by 3m) were excavated on the site between 3 and 12 August 2004, ahead of engineers' trial pits. The proposed development site is located at the edge of Golden village on the east side of the River Suir, and east of the castle. Part of the site lies in the floodplain of the river and part on the adjacent hillside to the north-east. The first-edition OS map of Golden and Griffith's Valuation map show the development site to be greenfield.

The results from the recent excavations are consistent with the previous test excavations on the site. The excavations uncovered buildings on terraces, extending down the hill from the high ground to the flood-plain. A substantial mortared stone structure at the bottom of the slope close to the river was dated to the 13th/14th century. The remains of mortared stone buildings (walls and floors) dated to the 13th/early14th century (based on recovered pottery) were also identified on the higher ground in excavations ahead of the engineers' trial pits.

The structural remains identified are part of a medieval settlement at Golden. The substantial mortared stone structure at the bottom of the hill close to the riverside may be part of a watermill and the less substantial remains upslope may be houses, workshops or stores. The castle on the bridge dates to the 15th/16th century, a circular tower-house on an island in the river, with no indication of an earlier structure round about. A 13th-century castle might be expected at Golden and this could be on the riverbank.

Knockrower Road, Stradbally, Co. Waterford