2007:109 - Leighlinbridge, Carlow

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Carlow Site name: Leighlinbridge

Sites and Monuments Record No.: CW012–070 Licence number: E003022

Author: Rob Lynch with Faith Bailey, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Site type: Post-medieval

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 668985m, N 665591m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.736997, -6.978465

Testing and monitoring were carried out throughout 2007 at Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, in response to a sewerage improvement scheme. The village is registered as a national monument due to the presence of the Blackcastle and the remains of the medieval town defences.
Testing was carried out on the north bank of the River Barrow, where it was proposed to construct a new pump-house (on the site of an existing pump-house). Due to the proximity of the Blackcastle on the opposite side of the river, and the river itself, this area was judged to possess archaeological potential. Three trenches were excavated in this area and all topsoil was metal detected. However, nothing of archaeological significance was discovered here. The removal of topsoil was monitored at a later date at the site, as was the installation of ducting within the roadway to the west and south-west of the test area, but no features or deposits of archaeological potential were noted during this work.
It was also proposed to insert 60m of pipeline along Main Street. Due to the close proximity of Blackcastle, it was recommended that testing be carried out here prior to works. However, it was not possible to close the road to conduct testing and, as a result, works were carried out on the understanding that should significant archaeological remains be discovered then all works would cease until consultation had been made with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. During excavation of the pipeline trench, the remains of mortared stone wall foundations were noted along the northern side of the trench. These travelled for a distance of c. 35m and had a maximum height of 0.75m. Due to the position of the pipeline trench, the wall was not disturbed by the laying of the pipe and so was recorded, covered in terram and preserved in situ. It is likely that the wall, which is located 2.5m out from the current street frontage, represents an earlier, post-medieval street frontage and would have formed the foundations to buildings fronting on to what was a narrow street leading past the castle and across the river.
Finally a programme of monitoring was carried out during ground disturbances associated with the construction of a new pump-house and the demolition of an existing pump-house to the south-east of Blackcastle. This work was undertaken over the course of several phases and nothing of archaeological significance was discovered during the course of monitoring.