2007:1639 - Sarsfield Street, Clonmel, Tipperary

An impact assessment was carried out in compliance with the planning conditions for the redevelopment of No. 7 Sarsfield Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, as there was a possibility of uncovering archaeological features associated with the nearby Franciscan friary. The development site is situated on the southern corner of Sarsfield Street and Bank Lane, close to the assumed entrance to the medieval friary and on the line of the medieval precinct wall. The excavation of the basement floor was undertaken by hand because of restricted access. The upper layers of the floor within the basement were not untypical of those found elsewhere in 18th- and 19th-century urban buildings, except perhaps in their lack of domestic detritus on the floor area itself. At least two, and possibly three, layers of redeposited boulder clay had been laid across the floor, possibly contemporaneously, to restrain the effects of damp but, at least in recent years, these had not prevented frequent flooding. The overflowing of the River Suir has caused widespread flooding in the town, particularly in the last twenty years
Under the clay floor, a substantial wall was uncovered measuring 4.5m north–south by 1.5m wide. Further investigation of the wall revealed two separate wall foundations, with a loose sandstone infill between and covered by a lime-rich mortar which bound the two together. The walls pre-date the existing 1800s building and are located 2.1m below ground-floor level, at 16.028m OD, along the assumed line of the Franciscan friary precinct wall.
The location and historical record suggest that the east wall was the remains of the foundation of the original precinct wall of the Franciscan friary, with its west face clearly visible for a length of 2.5m by 0.45m wide. The stone exposed was predominantly orange/yellow sandstone, similar to that used for both the extant tower of the friary and also the standing remains of the town walls. The stones were mostly irregular and bonded with a moderately coarse lime mortar. Only the west face of the wall survived, with the rest of the stonework robbed, probably to provide material for the stronger replacement wall. This secondary or west wall probably dates from the historical record of the fortification of the former Franciscan friary within the town in 1652, although no evidence to date of either structure was uncovered. This wall had an average width of 0.6m and was constructed of flatter, more regular, limestones closely mortared together with a finer lime-based mortar than that seen in the east wall. Both its west and east faces appeared regularly constructed, although only the top of the east side was exposed. Its northern terminus was nicely squared and appeared to have been deliberately levelled, with the inclusion of sections of roof slate, and may represent the foundation for a gate pier.
As the wall was to be left in situ, only cursory investigation at the southern end was undertaken to establish the relationship between the two walls and also with the vertical stonework uncovered within the south basement wall. On removal of the overlying lime within the central section, it was noticed that the fill was of random, unmortared, sandstone, with clean voids apparent between the stones as if thrown in loosely. However, ground-water incursion here prevented investigation beyond c. 0.15m below the top of the wall.
Despite the lack of datable material, it is not unreasonable to speculate that the remains uncovered at 7 Sarsfield Street represent the transformation of the Franciscan friary precinct into the Cromwellian fort in Clonmel between 1650 and 1652. Given the nature of their Order, a medieval Franciscan precinct wall might well be regarded as representing demarcation rather than security. The Cromwellian governorship regarded security as paramount and the erection of a wall 1.5m thick around their headquarters in Tipperary an absolute necessity. While documentation regarding its details is scant, both its construction and its intimidatory value are on record. The northern termination of the wall uncovered may well bound the entrance to the fort, and probably the friary also.
The vertical wall noted within the south basement wall extended to the height of the basement but no further. It appeared battered, inclined towards the east but straightening before reaching modern ground level. There was also a slight batter inclined towards the south but straightening less than 1m above the wall foundation. Its western foundation line lay on the east line of the western wall and it appeared to be tied into the east wall, suggesting that it may be contemporaneous with the earlier, friary, wall. If so, it would appear to represent, perhaps, the north-west corner of a building extending back into the friary grounds. It is possible, therefore, that it may represent the remains of a tower or adjunct of the friary wall, with the upper limestone superimposed at a later date. Given the effort apparently expended on the later, western, section of the wall, such an addition or remodelling seems crude by comparison, even if still below ground level, and the limestone section may date to no earlier than the construction of the basement. If indeed it is the remains of a tower, its isolated retention within the basement wall is curious, unless at least part of the north–south wall were retained. Unfortunately the adjoining basement to the south (No. 8 Sarsfield Street) was infilled c. 1990, but it is possible that the west wall of this building was retained within the basement as an internal division.