2006:1320 - Longford, Antrim

Test excavation and monitoring of works associated with the Longford broadband project were carried out from August to November 2006. The excavation phase of the project involved the opening of a series of trenches throughout the town centre and its surrounding infrastructure. All of the trenches were located along roads, either in the carriageway proper or the adjoining verge or footpath. There were no river crossings other than at existing bridges. The trenches were 0.6m wide and excavated to a standard depth of 0.9m in carriageways and 0.6m in verges/footpaths. Junction boxes (1.25m2) were excavated where two or more trenches intersected and at regular intervals along long straight sections.
Prior to development, three test-trenches were excavated in the environs of the site of the original O’Fearghaill fortification (LF013–061), Longford Castle (LF013–062) and the site of the Dominican priory of St Brigid (LF013–026). All works within the area of archaeological constraint surrounding the town were monitored on a full-time basis, while the remainder of the works were monitored on an intermittent basis. No archaeological features, finds or deposits were uncovered.