2007:539 - RATHMICHAEL, Dublin

Test-excavation was carried out on a site in Rathmichael, south Co. Dublin, between 23 and 28 August 2007. The triangular-shaped site comprised seven fields in total and was bordered by the South Eastern Motorway (SEM) to the south, the Brides Glen Road to the north and the Mullinastill Road to the east. There are no development plans drafted for the site at present and the testing was carried out on foot of recommendations made in an archaeological desktop study of the site. This study showed that the northern end of the site (Field 7) incorporates the constraint area for RMP DU026–086 (site of a tuck-mill and mill-race), which is referred to in the 1654 Civil Survey of the County of Dublin (Simington 1945). No subsurface remains were visible in the field, although the mill-race is extant and runs in a general east–west direction along the southern side of Field 7. The site of the original Glebe House (RMP DU026–114), which belonged to the Rathmicheal parish prebend, is located just north of the site and north of the Brides Glen Road. A dwelling had been constructed on the site of the house in the 17th century. The desktop study also noted that, as a direct result of works associated with the SEM to the south of the site, overburden and artificial elevation of the natural ground level has taken place in Fields 1, 2, 3 and 6.

The test-excavation comprised a two-fold research agenda. The first question to be addressed was whether subsurface archaeological features, which could be related to known or unknown monuments in the area, were present. The second part of the strategy was concerned with addressing the disturbed nature of the fields and assessing their suitability for a geophysical survey. Twenty-six test-trenches were excavated across Fields 1–7.

There was a large amount of disturbance in Fields 1, 3 and 6 due to previous works associated with the SEM and excavations for electricity cables and drainage systems. The results of testing in these fields suggest that anything of archaeological significance that might have been present would have been severely truncated by the works and they are deemed unsuitable for a geophysical survey.

Trenches in Fields 2 and 4 yielded nothing of archaeological significance. Stratigraphy within the trenches excavated in Field 2 consisted of topsoil sealing natural geological strata, which varied from orange/brown silty clay to gravelly brown clay. Excavations within Field 4 showed similar stratigraphy. The western boundary of Field 4 was created by a former laneway dating from the 17th century; this connected Rathmichael Church in the east to the original Rathmichael Glebe House in the north. The northern boundary of Field 4 curves and is associated with the 18th-century Mullinastill House to the north-east. This boundary is visible on the 1871 OS map. Two trenches were excavated close to it in order to assess its curving nature. Although no evidence was noted at this time, the boundary may prove to be of an earlier date. No archaeological remains were noted in Fields 2 and 4 during the testing; however, it is possible that archaeological remains are present elsewhere in these fields. The terrain is also suitable for a geophysical survey.

The eastern and south-eastern sides of Field 5 were also very disturbed as a result of modern drainage excavations and dumping; however, the northern part of the field appeared to be relatively undisturbed. Post-medieval features were noted in a trench in this part of the field and they are probably the remnants of a field boundary associated with Mullinastill House; they are visible on the first-edition OS map of the area. It is probable that there are further extant post-medieval features in this area. The field, however, is not suitable for geophysical survey.

Six trenches were excavated in Field 7 in the northern end of the Council lands in order to locate any possible remains associated with the mill site DU026–086. Some form of activity was noted. Excavations next to the extant east–west-aligned mill-race in the south-eastern end of the field uncovered a number of granite blocks. A large sherd of unglazed earthenware was found in fills that were probably associated with the mill-race. A jumble of granite blocks and stones were also uncovered in the north-western side of the field; they may be related to some form of demolished structure which appears to be marked on Rocque’s map of 1760.

An extant wall present in Field 7, in the extreme north-eastern corner of the site, has been incorporated into the western property boundary of Wentworth House and Mullinastill House. It is thought to be a remnant of the mill-house. The location of the wall next to the mill-race, the similarity of its orientation to that of a feature visible on the historic maps and the nature of its construction suggest that it may be a mill-house wall. An oval void in the wall face suggests that it may once have contained the mill wheel, rotated by the fast-flowing water within the mill-race. Field 7 was deemed suitable for geophysical survey.

Reference
Simington, R. (ed.) 1945 The Civil Survey a.d. 1654–1656, Vol VII, County of Dublin. Dublin.

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