County: Tipperary Site name: Main Street, Fethard
Sites and Monuments Record No.: v Licence number: 07E0884
Author: Mary Henry, Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd, 17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Site type: Urban, metalled surface
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 620713m, N 635024m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.466272, -7.695158
One test-trench was opened on the imprint of a very small extension to the former convent hall, just off the Main Street, Fethard. The top 0.55m comprised modern infill, which sealed an earlier infill which had a thickness of 0.6–1m and contained medium and large pieces of limestone, of which approximately 40% were dressed. This infill sealed, at the base of the trench, a compact sloping metalled surface. It extended along the full length of the entire trench. Regarding the stones in the infill it is considered that they may belong to the nearby town wall. The metalled surface sloped downwards, towards the river. It is suggested this facilitated the access from the riverbank to a higher, more level, ground, within close proximity to the town wall. A study of the first-edition OS map of 1840 confirmed the existence of a tanning pit in the vicinity, which would have necessitated access to the river for processing the hides. It is considered the cobbling was associated with this activity in its latest form. No dating evidence was retrieved from within the cobbles, whilst the infill sealing them was of post-medieval date. The cobbles directly overlaid the natural deposition. Due to the close proximity of the town wall, it is proposed their provenance could well be earlier than the post-medieval period, with possible usage extending into the 19th century.
