2005:1676 - TEMPLESCOBY, Wexford

A series of substantial timbers were recovered from Templescoby townland during unmonitored construction work for the N30 Enniscorthy–Clonroche roadway scheme. Eight archaeological timbers were recovered, three of which are believed to form the main structural elements of a horizontal mill, the most diagnostic timber being similar to those used to support the wooden flume, either within the millpond or at the mill itself, where the water exits and hits the mill wheel.

Subsequent to this discovery, a programme of licensed monitoring by Grace Fegan took place, and two additional timbers were discovered during the reshaping of a drainage ditch, located c. 10m south-east from the initial timber recovery spot. These timbers were thought to correspond with those from a possible tailrace for the mill structure. Full excavation was carried out between 26 and 30 September 2005. An area measuring 15.5m by 9m was excavated and represented an exposure of 11m north-east, 4.8m south-west, 2.6m north-west, and 6.2m south-east of the timber findspot. This cutting corresponded with the projected line of a palaeo-channel visible in the exposed drain faces. The timbers were found at a maximum depth of 1.2m. The overlying deposits represented redeposited material used to backfill an area of poorly drained land located along the eastern edge of the field system. This reclamation is believed to have taken place in the last fifty years.

Six cuttings were excavated into the palaeo-channel. The fill was comprised of three contexts. The predominant, basal, layer was a thick peat deposit. This layer was relatively young in formation, being loose and extremely fibrous. This context extended to the northern limit of the channel and was c. 1m in depth, overlying sterile blue marl that formed the channel base. A compact layer of blue/grey clay with gravel comprised the topmost fill of the channel. This layer is present to a maximum thickness of 0.3m. Three timbers were present, lying on the interface between these two layers.

Apart from the palaeo-channel, no features were identified on this site. While it is thought that timbers recorded from the excavation are consistent with those from a mill structure, they were found at a distance of 10m1 from where the main body of the structure is thought to have been located. It remains unclear whether they constitute in situ or redeposited mill components. However, the possibility that they formed part of a tailrace remains. Felling dates of AD771±9 years and AD745AD±9 have been obtained through dendrochronological analysis (undertaken at Queen’s University, Belfast) from samples removed from two of the structural timbers recovered.

Brehon House, Castelcomer, Co. Kilkenny