2006:2011 - WATERFORD: Belfry Hotel, Conduit Lane, Waterford

The site at Conduit Lane, Waterford, lies within the medieval city and is adjacent to the 13th-century Dominican priory, Blackfriars. The redevelopment plan proposed to extend the hotel to the full height of the existing three-storey structure.

Prior to testing, the preferred construction method envisaged was a raft foundation, in which case only 0.8m of material would be removed during the clearance stage. The object of the testing, therefore, was to establish the depth at which archaeological horizons survive on the site and to ensure their preservation in situ. Medieval horizons were exposed at a depth of 1.77m adjacent to Conduit Lane, at the eastern side of the site and at 1.66m towards the rear of the site (western extent). These consisted of silty organic deposits, typical of medieval accumulations. One sherd of Leinster cooking ware was recovered from this horizon. To the north-west a paved surface overlay the organic deposits and three sherds of North Devon gravel-tempered ware were recovered in association.

Adjacent to Conduit Lane, archaeological horizons were exposed at 1.77m below the modern ground surface level. The earliest level recorded consisted of a deposit of compact redeposited boulder clay. This was overlain by a thin horizon of dark-brown to black organic silt. No archaeological finds were recovered, but inclusions of charcoal flecking, shell and fish and animal bone are indications of a medieval origin for these deposits.

Medieval masonry was recorded at the south-west of the site. This wall was orientated east–west and was truncated vertically at both extremes. Approximately 1.24m of masonry survived. Five courses were exposed, four of which formed part of the subsurface foundation levels, as a deposit of compacted boulder clay abutted the exposed south face (the edge of the presumed wall trench did not occur within the limits of the test-trench). The wall may be a remnant of the friary complex, standing elements of which survive to the south of the site. Alternatively it may represent part of the city defences, elements of which are located immediately to the west of the site.

At the time of testing, when it was proposed that a raft foundation would be used, it was apparent that construction works would not impinge on the archaeological horizons, which were sealed and protected with appropriate materials. Subsequently the foundation design was changed to a raft-and-pile complex. The proposed pile layout was altered slightly to ensure that the archaeological features were avoided and the insertion of the piles was monitored.

Fern Cottage, Carrigcastle, Ballylaneen, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford