County: Down Site name: 4, 6, 8 and 12 Belfast road, saintfield
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/07/214
Author: Peter Bowen and James McKee, ADS Ltd, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30–50 Distillery Street, Belfast.
Site type: Urban
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 740421m, N 859099m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.460952, -5.834091
An archaeological investigation was undertaken in October 2007 in advance of the proposed development of lands at Belfast Road, Saintfield, Co. Down. The proposed development consisted of two main areas, the first to the south and east encompassing demolished and cleared buildings and tarmac, and the second to the north and west relating to long, linear garden plots. The majority of the proposed development site consisted of linear back gardens that had been in existence since the early 19th century and probably date to the foundation of Saintfield in the 18th century.
It was recommended that pre-development testing be carried out in the areas previously occupied by Nos 6, 8 and 12 Belfast Road and in two linear garden areas to the west. A total of eighteen test-trenches were excavated across the confines of the site. In general the stratigraphic sequence of the site was characterised by topsoil and overburden, up to 0.7m deep, immediately overlying undisturbed subsoil. Nothing of archaeological interest was found.
