2007:1073 - PORTLAOISE: Bull Lane, Laois

The development involves the demolition of the existing shop unit, Laois Educational Supplies, and the construction of a new bookstore on the site. Permission has been granted for the development subject to the condition that the site be tested. The development site lies within the archaeological constraint established around the post-medieval town of Maryborough. It lies to the south-west of the original fort and is also outside and to the west of the conjectured line of the original town defences.

The first-edition OS maps for this area were surveyed in 1839. These show the core of the town to be much the same as it is today. The street pattern on the south side of the Main Street, which borders the northern perimeter of the current development, is relatively unchanged. Bull Lane itself, on to which the southern edge of the development fronts, is represented by a short stretch of street extending to the south of and perpendicular to Main Street. This street was extended eastwards during the 1970s when a row of retail units was constructed.

A number of outbuildings are apparent in the gardens to the rear of the houses on Main Street, some of which lie within the confines of the development site. The date of these outbuildings is uncertain, although it is unlikely that they pre-date the early 19th century.

The only features of possible archaeological interest were recorded at the northern and southern parts of the proposed development and appear to represent the remains of outbuildings associated with the houses on Main Street and as such probably date to the earlier part of the 19th century.