2007:03 - Antrim Castle Gardens, Antrim, Antrim

Archaeological investigations were carried out in advance of restoration within targeted areas of the grounds at Antrim Castle Gardens. The primary aim of this phase of on-site evaluation was to inform the client and Antrim Borough Council (ABC) on the presence/absence, nature and extent of subsurface archaeological deposits associated with the castle and its gardens. The results of this will aid a joint proposal from ABC and the Heritage Lottery for the rejuvenation of the site. The investigations took the form of test-trenches, which were carried out during July and August 2007.
Six areas of the site were investigated during this phase of excavations. The main focus was the area formerly occupied by the castle, of which only a small portion remains aboveground. Excavation here identified further subsurface surviving structural remains. Other areas investigated include the French Garden, to expose the former dividing wall, the Pleasure Garden, the Fountain Garden and the Wilderness, which were tested for evidence of former path surfaces.
The former castle site ANT050–174 occupied the area between the motte, ANT050–109, and the Six Mile Water. This area is currently grassed, with the only extant indicator of the former castle being the slender crenellated tower and adjoining walls located to the north-west.
The castle site
Test-trenching within this area was successful, in part, in locating some surviving remains of the former castle building. The best surviving areas were found to be the south and west walls and some of the north-western tower was found to be fairly intact below ground.
The south wall was found to survive on average, 1m below current ground level, and extended for a distance c. 30m before the rate of survival diminished. By the time of demolition it was evident from the surviving masonry that the building had most probably undergone phases of building and modification, with the main fabric apparently of stone, with later additions using red brick of apparent 19th–20th-century date. Several architectural details were identified along this wall. A return wall associated with the square tower was located at the south-western corner, and window detail including a possible bay window was also identified.
Demolition had left little trace of the south-eastern extent of the building until the area around the former entrance was investigated. The trenches uncovered some in situ masonry associated with the front of the building, although no definite steps were identified; the front wall was exposed, and masonry fragments associated with the former façade.
Detail of the north-eastern tower was uncovered. These walls were all of stone-and-mortar construction, and a doorway with intact step providing access to the tower was uncovered.
No subsurface remains of the north wall were uncovered within the trenches as excavated, although masonry associated with the wall may survive here below the demolition rubble.
Walls comprising the west end of the former building were found to survive closer to ground level in this area. Here, two walls set at right angles were identified. The east–west-aligned wall was constructed of stone and mortar and presumably extended to the existing stone boundary wall that curves around this end of the castle area. The wall set at right angles was of red-brick construction, apparently late 19th-century in date.
In addition, investigations here uncovered walls of stone-and-mortar construction that formed a corner. Curiously, the north–south-aligned wall is set off from the existing structural remains and would not appear to coincide with this build, but the return wall would appear to be in line with the location of the former north wall. It would appear that this may be evidence of an earlier phase of building associated with Antrim Castle.
No small finds of significance were produced from the site investigations, although fragments of dressed stone and plaster mouldings from the exterior of the castle were recovered.
The French Garden
Trenches excavated in this area were successful in locating the former dividing wall that separated the French Garden from the Terrace Garden, and also the return walls formerly enclosing this area. The main dividing wall was constructed of red brick above stone foundations. Excavation was only carried out to expose the top of the surviving wall in order to identify the alignment. No finds were recovered during excavation of this area.
The Pleasure Garden
Two 1m by 1m trenches were excavated in this area, to investigate the nature of the former path surfaces in the former Pleasure Garden. Trench 1 identified a gravel surface within the sunken path, at the base of a flight of stone steps. Trench 2 uncovered a hardened clay surface within a stone archway associated with another walkway. These rough surfaces would be in keeping with the informal nature of the Pleasure Garden, providing a natural pathway through this feature garden. The paths probably meandered through this area of earthen banks, among stone-lined sunken paths, stone archways and presumably also along the tops of the banks. The naturalistic theme would most likely have been carried through into the planting, probably using foliage plants such as ferns along the banks and path edges.
Fountain Garden
Two trenches were excavated in this area and both revealed remains of the diagonal boundary paths associated with the former 19th-century Fountain Garden. The material used for the path surface was established to be coarse stone chips, although some disturbance appeared to have removed most of this from the former path at this side of the garden. No edging of the stone chip path was present, although the edges were fairly well defined. This would support the estimation that this garden was not in use for a long period of time.
The Wilderness
Of the four trenches excavated within the Wilderness Garden, three identified the surviving remains of the former path system that led through this area. As with the Fountain Garden, these paths were established using stone chips and coarse gravel to create a fairly informal walkway, in keeping with the natural woodland.