County: Wicklow Site name: BLESSINGTON DEMESNE, BLESSINGTON
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 5:18 Licence number: 03E0453 EXT.
Author: SinŽad Phelan, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd, Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd, 27 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 697205m, N 714933m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.175986, -6.545908
Monitoring at Blessington Demesne, Co. Wicklow, of topsoil-stripping in advance of the construction of show houses commenced in March 2003 and has been ongoing. This interim report details the results of topsoil-stripping that took place in 2004.
Blessington Demesne is located west of Blessington village. The main avenue runs from Blessington Church to the remains of Downshire House.
Michael Doyle, Archbishop of Dublin, constructed Downshire House in the late 17th century. A solitary stairwell with an underground cellar is the only visible remains of the house. There are two old farm buildings to the south of Downshire House, adjacent to the inner demesne wall, which may be contemporary with the house.
All the features exposed during this phase of topsoil-stripping were associated with 18th/19th-century agricultural activity surrounding Blessington Demesne. Nothing of archaeological significance was identified. Further archaeological monitoring works are due to recommence in 2005.
