2007:529 - The Casino, Marino, Dublin

An assessment took place within the grounds of the former Marino Demesne at Marino, Dublin 3. The development footprint is located to the north-west of the neo-classical structure known as the ‘Casino’, a national monument, and is close to the ‘Gothic Room’ and the serpentine lake, which formed part of the 18th-century demesne. The former Marino Demesne has been subdivided over time into smaller properties and is at present owned by a number of different organisations.
There have been several historical landscape studies in the area in recent times, together with an archaeological appraisal by Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd. A field inspection report concluded that no upstanding historical landscape features were noted within the footprint of the development area.
Five test-trenches were opened, two in the north-west corner of the site at the point closest to the Gothic Room and three in the south-west corner, formerly occupied by the northern reaches of the serpentine lake. No evidence was revealed for the presence or foundations of the Gothic Room. However, the remains of two possibly contemporary structures were uncovered, a small brick culvert and a large masonry wall, the latter possibly the foundations of the original boundary wall, and the former may have fed the serpentine lake. The three trenches in the area of the lake were cut through 1.5m of backfill. Possible remnants of lakeside deposits were revealed, consisting of sedimentary silt underlying a thin layer of wood and decayed vegetation, suggesting marshy ground with a thick cover of trees and shrubs. Deeper deposits of black silt marked the lake in the south-west corner of the development.
Metal detection of all the soil revealed old brass, copper pipes and modern debris such as bicycle parts and nails, together with modern china.