2005:1061 - DROGHEDA: 2–5 South Quay, Louth

Two phases of testing were carried out on the site of a proposed commercial development on 17–20 January and on 23–25 February 2005. The proposed development relates to the construction of a restaurant, retail units, offices, apartments and a carpark. Six trenches were excavated in total, three within the carpark, one within Building Number 5 and two within Building Number 4.

Trench 1 was located within Building Number 5. It revealed a number of archaeological features, including two walls that cut through a medieval deposit. The walls were composed of stone and mortar and both were orientated east–west. Sherds of Saintonge medieval pottery were retrieved from the deposit.

Two trenches were excavated within Building Number 4. Trench 2 was north–south orientated. It contained a number of medieval deposits and a stone alignment that emerged from the southern extent of the western baulk of the trench. Finds from these features included body sherds of glazed medieval pottery.

Trench 3 was east–west orientated and was excavated to the west of Trench 2. It contained four deposits and three walls. Finds from the deposits included sherds of medieval pottery. One of the walls was orientated north-east/south-west, while the other two were north–south orientated. They were composed of stone and mortar.

Trench 4 was excavated within the carpark located to the east of Building Number 5. It revealed six walls, all north–south orientated, including a very substantial limestone wall constructed of dressed stones and mortar along both faces with an internal fill of smaller, more rounded stones. This wall measured 1.2m in width. Two of the stone walls exposed within the trench appeared to be associated and enclosed a clay floor.

Trench 5 was located at the western extent of the site and was north-west/south-east orientated. It revealed two stone and mortar east–west orientated walls and a number of deposits that contained medieval pottery.

Trench 6 was excavated parallel to Trench 4. An extremely compacted stone assemblage was encountered within the central portion of this trench. This feature measured 2.2m in width and was located 0.4m below ground level. Without exposing a larger portion of this feature it is not possible to be certain of its function, but it appears to represent a large wall. A brick floor was exposed protruding from the southern baulk of the trench.