2007:1227 - Market Street, Castlebar, Mayo

Pre-development testing was carried out between 22 and 24 August 2007 at a site which fronted on to Market Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. The site also backed on to Castle Street carpark to the south-east. This site had been added to an original proposed development site located across Market Street to the north-west, which was extensively tested in January 2007 (No. 1226 above, 06E1124). The fifteen trenches excavated in the original site revealed evidence of an area backfilled in the late 20th century to provide for a number of carparks. Below the fill were a number of modern features and deposits. The overall proposed development comprised retail, leisure and restaurants with a number of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments overhead. The proposed development site was located within the constraint for Castlebar town (MA078–003). Most of the site, according to the first-edition 6-inch OS sheet of 1838, consisted of the back gardens of properties facing on to Market Street. At the time of testing the site still consisted of the backyards of two properties fronting on to Market Street.
The testing consisted of the excavation (by machine) of five trenches to cover those areas of the site which were accessible. The trenches measured 17.7m, 48.4m, 49.7m, 21.6m and 9.8m long respectively, 1–1.8m wide and 0.15–3m deep. Below the hardcore, topsoil and tarmac on the surface was modern fill and peat, above white plastic silty clay (marl). The topsoil and fill contained modern artefacts. The peat contained one red-brick fragment and a small animal burial. A number of modern services crossed the trenches, including a large sewer pipe, 1.1m in diameter. A number of modern mortared rubble walls were visible within the trenches.
The testing revealed evidence of a marshy/peaty area which it appeared was filled up in order to utilise it as back gardens for the buildings fronting on to Market Street. Nothing of archaeological significance was revealed.