2007:1735 - Tipperary, Tipperary

groundworks were monitored as part of laying ducting for a broadband scheme within the zone of archaeological potential for Tipperary town. This linear scheme traversed the majority of major thoroughfares within Tipperary, offering a relatively comprehensive view of the underlying stratigraphy to a depth of ,1.2m. This generally comprised a modern road surface, supported by chippings, either overlying the natural very gravelly sandy clay; or the road surface and chippings over a redeposited sandy clay with red brick and containing occasional animal bone, which itself overlay the natural. Therefore, from an archaeological aspect, physical evidence pertaining to the medieval period of the town can be considered negative, even though this scheme traversed areas of possible high archaeological potential, such as the projected line of the town wall at various locations.
It is possible the 19th- and 20th-century layers, directly overlying the natural, have removed the earlier deposits, which may have been both shallow and thin. An instance of this may be Main Street, where the redeposited natural with red brick directly overlies a brick-built sewer.
Two walls were revealed during the monitoring works, both in Station Road and within relatively close proximity of the abbey site. Interestingly, both were discovered fairly deeply: the first was 0.9m below ground level whilst the second was 0.8m below. This would appear to support the above theory regarding the Victorian/modern works, which in the main seem to be contained to a depth of ,0.7m.
Due to the fact the walls were revealed at the base of the trench, they could not be extensively examined. However, due to their composition and bonding, in conjunction with their dimensions and location, it is considered they may be associated with the abbey and of medieval provenance.
Regarding the presence of a medieval town wall, no archaeological evidence emerged whatsoever to suggest Tipperary town was ever walled.