2007:1358 - NEWTOWN TRIM/ST JOHN’S, Meath

Monitoring of emergency sewage works was undertaken at Newtown Trim, Co. Meath. These works involved replacing an existing sewage line with a new larger pipe within a new pipe corridor from an existing pumping station north of the Boyne. The development ran through the main part of the village of Newtown Trim (ME036–049), mainly based along the road crossing the River Boyne at the site of the medieval bridge (ME036–049(01)). The development included replacing the old pipe attached to the medieval bridge with a new pipe. The pipeline continued in proximity to St John’s Friary (ME036–049(11, 12)), a national monument, to connect with an existing manhole.
Monitoring on the south side of the bridge revealed deposits of clay and gravel 1.3m in depth overlying a rough stone surface. Seven metres south of the bridge at a depth of 1.6m these deposits overlay a spread of pungent blue/grey clay containing charcoal and animal bone. Excavation ceased at this point and these deposits were covered in terram. Natural ground rose steadily, 40.5m further south, to a point where bedrock was located immediately under 0.6m of roadfill. Six metres north of the bridge a small pit was uncovered under 0.9m of roadfill. It had a charcoal- and shell-rich fill and contained a single sherd of medieval pottery. At a point 8m north of the bridge an east–west wall foundation was uncovered 0.6m below modern roadfill. It was clay bonded and survived to two courses. It was heavily truncated by a modern sewer pipe. Both of these features were preserved in situ.
The monitoring at Newtown Trim has demonstrated the existence of archaeological deposits on both sides of the bridge at considerable depths. These deposits are largely confined to the original flood-plain of the River Boyne as delimited by bedrock.