2005:1579 - MULLINGAR: Blackhall Carpark/Grove Avenue, Westmeath

Testing took place between 18 August and 7 September 2005 at Blackhall Street carpark/Grove Avenue in Mullingar town in advance of possible future development.

It was proposed to excavate a main central test-trench (Trench 1) roughly orientated north–south. Perpendicular offshoot trenches were extended from this central trench, with an east–west orientation (Trenches 1a-f). It was proposed that these offshoots were to be at least 10m in length. It was also proposed that a second trench (Trench 2) was to be inserted immediately south of the recorded location of the abbey. This trench measured 75.3m in length and 2m in width. Machine-assisted investigations were conducted with a 2m toothless bucket. Trench 1 (south) measured 22.1m by 4m; Trench 1 (north) was 14.43m by 4m. Trenches 1a–c and 1f were 10m by 2m and Trenches 1d and 1e measured 7.5m by 2m.

Three major features were recorded within Trench 1 (south). The first was an east–west-orientated ditch that measured 1.9m by 1.17m and produced much animal bone, charcoal flecking, snail and mollusc shells and a medieval floor tile fragment. The second feature was again an east–west-orientated linear ditch measuring 1m wide and 0.5m deep. The remnants of a possible redeposited bank were evident on the southern side. This ditch produced chert debitage and one struck waste chert flake from a core, indicating a strong likelihood for a prehistoric date. Truncating across the top of this earlier ditch were the possible remains of a later post-medieval robbed-out wall trench. This feature produced a mix of finds, from prehistoric chert debitage to medieval and post-medieval pottery.

Very few features of archaeological significance were recorded within Trench 1 (north). A mix of agricultural furrows and drains and gullies were identified. This agricultural activity and the discovery of medieval ditches in Trenches 1c–e and 1 (south) indicate an open area of arable farmland, possibly land once in the possession of the Dominican Order.

A substantial wall running north–south was recorded in Trench 1a. Overlying the wall was a series of collapsed layers, including rubble that might indicate that the wall trench/cut could have been at a higher level. Located in the south-west corner of the trench was a cobbling or surface layer. A rectangular pit was also recorded. It produced finds of medieval pottery and an iron blade. Occupying the majority of the trench was what initially looked like the remains of a limekiln that had been later abandoned. Finds from this feature included a chert core, a flint thumbnail scraper, a medieval floor tile and iron nails. Two cut and dressed stones, possibly from a window from the abbey, were also recovered. Three possible stake-holes, possibly of an earlier date, were identified under the base of this feature.

Trench 1b was located on the eastern side of the main centre-line north–south trench and was c. 2.4m deep. A series of overburden layers of waste and rubbish and underlying subsoils was removed by machine. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded.

Trench 1c was located on the eastern side of the main centre-line north–south trench c. 8m south of Trench 1b. It had a depth of c. 2.4m. A ditch orientated east–west and running the length of the trench was recorded. It had a depth of 0.8m and appeared to have been later recut and also produced two pieces of medieval floor tile, as well as animal bone, charcoal and many snail shells. Above the level of the ditch during a later phase of activity a French drain was put in, running north–south across the trench.

Trench 1d was on the western side of the main centre-line trench, c. 16m south of Trench 1a. It had a depth of c. 2.7m. It was positioned to ascertain the orientation and function of the ditch identified in Trench 1 (south) and in Trench 1c. The ditch was identified continuing in a westerly direction. Again it produced animal bone, charcoal flecks and many snail and mollusc shells. One fragment of medieval floor tile was recorded.

Trench 1e was on the western side of the main centre-line north–south trench, c. 11m south of Trench 1d. It had a depth of c. 2.75m. It revealed a substantial ditch running north–south measuring c. 3.2m wide and 0.84m deep. One piece of medieval floor tile was recorded.

Trench 1f was on the eastern side of the main centre-line north–south trench, c. 7m south Trench 1c. It had a depth of c. 2.15m. A series of overburden layers of waste and rubbish and underlying subsoils was removed by machine. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded.

Trench 2 was orientated north–south truncating a modern front and back garden. It had a total depth of 1.1–1.7m. A medieval linear drain was identified within the trench. It ran for an c. 28m downslope north to south, where it eventually ran into a natural spring. It measured 0.52m by 0.15m. It contained eleven fragments of medieval floor tiles and also the base of a medieval pot or jug. This feature appears to be of 13th-century date, with the high proportion of waste material and tile fragments indicating its use for waste removal from the abbey site.

In conclusion, the main north–south trench and Trenches 1c–e produced evidence for medieval field boundaries possibly encompassing open field systems within the lands owned by the abbey. This is strengthened by the plough furrows and drains/gullies found in Trench 1 (north). The records indicate the abbey had in its possession 60 acres of land in three scattered plots. The appearance of land boundaries would fit with this amount of land. The substantial wall located in Trench 1a produced no finds, which makes an interpretation difficult. What looked like being the interior of this structure produced a probable limekiln, which later fell into disuse and was backfilled with various materials, giving a mix of finds, from prehistoric to medieval and post-medieval. The cut and dressed stone recovered from this trench may have come from the ruined abbey or alternatively from the site of Blackhall Castle, which also stood in the vicinity of the carpark. It can be paralleled with the stone of Carneycastle tower-house, Co. Tipperary (15th–17th century). Earlier human activity is indicated by the linear ditch in Trench 1 (south), which produced chert debitage and flake and also a flint thumbnail scraper from the fill of the upper levels of the limekiln pit in Trench 1a. A flint barbed and tanged arrowhead was recorded in Trench 3 in the 2003 campaign (Excavations 2003, No. 1993, 03E1545). These finds all indicate human activity within this vicinity from the Neolithic period onwards.

Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny