2007:1617 - Cashel, Tipperary

groundworks were monitored as part of laying ducting for a broadband scheme in Cashel town. Several streets within the medieval town were trenched for the network and at three locations the line of the medieval town wall and/or associated fortified gates was crossed. Regarding the trenching line crossing the medieval town wall, classified as a national monument, the levels were deliberately kept shallow, 0.4–0.45m deep, and/or followed a corridor of a previously laid service. Accordingly the town wall was not located in the three areas the trenching line crossed: the west end of Main Street, Bank Place and Friar Street.
The main findings were confined to four locations. A section of trenching on Main Street, between the PJ Hogan Square junction and the entrance into Cashel Town Council public carpark, revealed five walls, one of which extended along the trench for a 17m length, whilst the others crossed/extended along the trench. Although not of medieval date, all of these walls were preserved in situ. It is considered they were of post-medieval date and associated with buildings which fronted the north of the street. This segment of the street has been widened, with the present buildings set back from the original street line.
At the western end of Abbey Side Road, the final 10m leading to the Friar Street junction, there was a change in the stratigraphy from that of the road directly overlying the natural deposition. Underlying the lowest existing service line, at the 0.8m level, a very dark, almost black, sandy silt deposition was encountered, which was preserved in situ. Located just east of where the ducting entered a chamber a wall was uncovered 0.6m below ground level. It had been partly damaged by a previous service. Built of limestone, it had an unknown length and measured 0.8m wide. In addition, the presence of several services close to the wall resulted in very high disturbance of the stratigraphy within its immediate vicinity. Accordingly, it was not possible to establish the provenance of the wall; however, it was preserved in situ.
Trenching extended along the east side of PJ Hogan Square, a short cul-de-sac which leads off the Main Street and terminates at the Courthouse. Much of this street was dominated by a mixed mid-brown coarse-grained sandy soil intermixed with stone and rubble beneath the road make-up. This deposition extended to 0.45m below ground level. Between the 0.45m and 0.55–0.6m level was a light-brown sticky sandy clay which overlaid a dark-greyish-brown deposit. It contained some animal bone and traces of charcoal; however, no datable evidence was retrieved from the surface of this layer. Where this deposition appeared it was preserved in situ.
The final section of works off Main Street extended into the Cashel Town Council public carpark, terminating at the Co-location building. Groundworks in this area entailed excavating three foundation lines for the Co-location building and reducing internally the site’s ground level by removing the asphalt surface.
A ditch was uncovered along the south foundation line for the Co-location building. Its sides were steep and straight, extending to a flat base. A single fill was contained within it, which consisted of a dark-brown loamy silty clay with moderate gravel inclusions and small stones. In section, the cut commenced at the base of a layer of well-worked, loam-rich garden soil and extended into the natural deposition. The garden soil had been truncated by the modern carpark and a sewer pipe. Although probably post-medieval, it is possible this ditch may be earlier. It extended parallel to the carpark wall and perpendicular to the town wall, on a similar angle and alignment as a red-brick spur within the town wall. Two ducting lines extended from the Co-location building to the exit of the public carpark. Several walls and surfaces, all of which were preserved in situ, were uncovered along the duct lines. These walls were the remnants of buildings which formerly existed in the carpark area, scars of which are still apparent along the boundary walls of the carpark.
No features or deposits definitely pertaining to the medieval period were revealed throughout the course of these works. On the perimeter of the zone of archaeological potential it was noticeable the modern road surfaces and build-up directly overlay the natural soils, which were at a relatively shallow depth. This was especially noticeable in the Ladyswell Street area, which was utilised as a cattle mart until at least the early years of the 20th century. All works within close proximity to the town wall and possible associated gates were kept to a minimum depth and contained within the current road build-up.
Regarding the underlying deposits within the town itself, it was apparent there has been a great deal of disturbance within the relatively recent past, mainly associated with the laying of services. This previous work has impacted upon extant features such as walls.