2006:318 - Shandon Street and Bob and Joan Walk, Cork, Cork

The Shandon Street area streetscape renewal scheme commenced in April 2003 and was initially monitored by Gina Johnson (Excavations 2003, No. 233). The scheme was temporarily halted and recommenced in November 2005. The licence was then transferred to the author and was extended to include Bob and Joan Walk. The scheme is located within the zone of archaeological potential for Cork city and is also in the vicinity of a church and two graveyards. The remains of a number of post-medieval stone drains and culverts were uncovered. A well-built sandstone culvert was found running north–south along Shandon Street. The entranceways leading to four burial vaults were partially exposed along the western side of Bob and Joan Walk, immediately outside the boundary wall of St Anne’s graveyard. From limited inspection, each vault comprised a shallow barrel-vaulted structure, which was accessed from an external stairway. The walls and entrance piers of the vaults were constructed of random rubble sandstone, which was heavily rendered and whitewashed. Both wooden and lead coffins were noted within the burial chambers. There was a large amount of disarticulated bone also present. The vaults dated to the 18th and 19th centuries and were noted on the first-edition OS map. The entrances to the vaults were covered and protected and the area was subsequently paved over.