2005:AD14 - PHILPOTSTOWN 1, PHILPOTSTOWN, Meath

Excavation of Philpotstown 1, situated on one section of the planned M3 Clonee to North of Kells motorway scheme, Co. Meath, was undertaken on behalf of Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority. This site was one of the areas identified by Paul Stevens during the testing programme of the Contract 2 (Dunshaughlin to Navan) stretch of motorway in 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1310, 04E0430). The excavation was carried out in July and August 2005.
During this excavation, building foundations and occupation layers associated with a 19th-century post office, smithy and dwelling were exposed, partially excavated and recorded. The plan of this building was rectangular and subdivided into three distinct areas, each fulfilling a different function. The smithing area was located at the southern end, where an entrance was delimited by a well-worn threshold. This, according to local sources, was also the position of an archway through which the horses would have entered to be shod. The floor at the south-west side of the smithy was constructed of wooden planking, while a beaten clay surface was evident at the north-eastern side. A stone-lined pit was cut into this clay surface and excavation of this yielded a leather strap, possibly part of a bridle, and a fragment of a metal ruler with graduation points incised into one side of it. The dwelling area was positioned immediately north of the smithy. No direct access between the smithy and main dwelling area was evident, in contrast to the post office, situated at the northern end of the building, which could be accessed via the house. A large flagstone forming the entrance/
threshold provided the main access to the dwelling and post office, which were separated internally by a chimney serving two fireplaces, one in either area.
At least two phases of construction were evident from excavation. It was apparent that the rear wall was rebuilt some time after the laying of a new internal floor surface. This surface sealed previous occupation layers and associated/contemporary internal walls.
An extant cobbled surface was uncovered to the front and sides of the building. A large millstone, surrounded by a number of contiguous kerbstones, was positioned immediately east of the boundary that separates the building from the existing N3. The millstone was believed to have functioned as a wheel-former for the forging of metal wheel bands. An additional outbuilding was located to the south-west of the main building. No surviving walls were evident and a concrete floor surface sealed the internal outline of this building. This has impeded any excavation at this location until suitable equipment can be obtained.
A large number of 19th- and 20th-century coins were retrieved from the floor surface of the post office, along with numerous sherds of early modern earthenware pottery. In addition to the abovementioned fragment of a metal ruler and the leather strap associated with horse bridles, excavation revealed a second strap and a number of wheel-brace fragments.