County: Kerry Site name: TRALEE: 18 Denny Street/Park Lane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: KE029–119 Licence number: 06E1163
Author: Laurence Dunne and Karen Buckley, Eachtra Archaeological Projects, 3 Lios na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee, Co. Kerry.
Site type: Town
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 483595m, N 614253m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.267643, -9.705491
Six test-trenches, as a component part of an archaeological and impact assessment, were excavated at a proposed development site (PDS) at 18 Denny Street/Park Lane, Tralee. The site is located within the medieval town of Tralee. The site is situated to the south-east of the site of the Great Castle of Tralee, which was one of the main Desmond castles of the medieval period and which was later granted to and occupied by the Denny family until the early decades of the 19th century. Furthermore, the site abuts the postulated route of the bawn wall of the Great Castle.
Trenches 1–3 were located in the rear open yard area and were opened using an eight-tonne track machine to a width of 1.2m. They varied in length and location due to the presence of a high-tension electric cable and sewage pipe that traversed the site from north to south. A large pit appeared to have been dug on site some years ago that was then filled with builders’ rubble and waste material. This pit was located immediately below present ground level on site.
Trenches 4–6 were opened using a mini track machine under artificial lighting, situated within the two-storey extension adjoining No. 18 Denny Street and scheduled for demolition. This building was subject to a separate building assessment.
Trenches 1, 4 and 6 revealed original cobbled and flagged surfaces contemporaneous with the 1826–29 construction of 18 Denny Street. Trenches 2 and 3 revealed a modern deep pit containing building rubble/debris. Nothing of archaeological significance was revealed in test-trenching.
