2007:1987 - 18 Main Street South, Wexford, Wexford

Test-trenching undertaken at No. 18 South Main Street, Wexford (see No. 1986 above), uncovered a number of medieval features. The excavation was carried out at the rear of No. 18 South Main Street in the area of a proposed extension to an existing shop. The excavation was generally confined to the footprint of the proposed extension. At the north-west the stratigraphy was disturbed by the existence of a series of steps to a lower floor level in the existing structure. A modern fill of rubble and garden soil was removed by 1.65m at the north and 1.9m at the south of the site, uncovering a number of archaeological features.
The evidence uncovered during the excavation is typical of medieval sites. The area was not on the main thoroughfares of the town and was in an area used for domestic and possibly industrial usage. The large pit, C3, at the west is similar to pits found in Wexford during other excavations, and was probably used as a quarry for shale for structures in the area such as the town wall and the medieval monasteries in the town. The pit C1 was only partially exposed; it was excavated into the natural and not into shale as C3 was. There is no evidence that this was used as a quarry or cesspit. Its exact function could not be ascertained. The later reworking of the well, C6, was excavated into the upper layer of the pit at the west. The pit may have been associated with the well, C2.
The well, C2, may have been in use for industrial or domestic purposes. Due to the small scale of the excavation no associated features were uncovered. It is possible that it is associated with the pits uncovered on site. The later addition of a mortared wall at the east would suggest that the well was in use over a considerable period of time. A flat stone at the south of the well may have been used as a washing stone.
All the excavated features on site are of medieval date. The fills of all features include medieval pottery; however, these fills post-date the features and may not be reliable for dating evidence. The features are within the medieval walled town and are within an area of known activity. Other excavations in the area have produced similar pits, and a number of wells uncovered during excavations for White’s Hotel to the north were used for tanning. There is no evidence of any large-scale industrial activity on the site, indicating that the well may have been used for domestic consumption.