County: Dublin Site name: 64–65 MEATH STREET AND 1 CROSTICK ALLEY, DUBLIN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05E0752
Author: Antoine Giacometti, Arch-Tech Ltd, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2.
Site type: Urban post-medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 714672m, N 733669m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.340815, -6.278001
Following an assessment and testing carried out by Christine Baker in 2001 (Excavations 2001, No. 394, 01E0258), a proposed development at the site was subject to monitoring from August to September 2005. Three phases of activity were noted.
The earliest evidence was dated to the medieval period. At this time the site was on land belonging to the Abbey of St Thomas. The evidence suggested that it was in agricultural use during the 13th century. The second phase of activity was dated to the 17th and early 18th centuries and was represented by industrial activity. At this time the Liberties and Meath Street area was developing into an industrial hub and the present course of Meath Street was laid out at the turn of the 18th century. The third phase of activity was of a domestic nature and was dated to the late 18th and 19th centuries. Meath Street was well established at this time. This activity is contemporary with the buildings at 64 and 65 Meath Street and at 1 Crostick Alley.
The façade of the buildings has been retained by the developer as part of the redevelopment of the site. A cistern associated with the third phase of activity was found during the course of the monitoring. This was tested and preserved in situ below the level of the new development.
