2007:1177 - DROGHEDA: 51 Laurence Street and 28a Bachelor’s Lane, Louth

Test-trenches were excavated to the rear of the above site in order to access its archaeological potential prior to the construction of a residential apartment development.

Trench 1 measured c. 25m in length, 1m in width and was excavated to a maximum depth of 2.24m. The concrete layer measured 0.1m in thickness and lay above a layer of compact hardcore. It measured 0.1m in thickness and lay above a layer of mid-grey sandy clay containing frequent inclusions of angular stone, brick and mortar. It measured 1.05m in thickness and lay above a layer of mid–dark-grey sandy clay which measured 0.75m in thickness and lay above the light-brown natural gravelly clay.

Trench 2 measured 17m in length, 1m in width and 2.5m in depth. The concrete yard surface measured 0.15m in thickness and lay above a layer of angular gravel which measured 0.24m in thickness and lay above a second concrete surface. It measured 0.16m in thickness and lay above a layer of hardcore and a layer of red-brick demolition rubble and mortar. This layer extended to a depth of 1.7m and lay above a layer of mid-brown clay containing moderate inclusions of round stone, mortar and red brick.

Trench 3 measured 2m in length, 1m in width and 1.7m in depth. The concrete surface measured 0.12m in thickness and lay above a layer of coarse gravel which measured 0.04m in thickness and lay above a layer of dark-brown sandy clay which extended to a depth of 1.7m. A north–south stone wall was exposed in the western section at a depth of 0.5m.

No archaeological features or deposits were exposed and it appeared that the rear of the site had been extensively disturbed in the post-medieval period.

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda