County: Carlow Site name: Oakpark/Painstown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 08D0036; 08R0084
Author: Edward Pollard, The Archaeological Diving Company Ltd, Brehon House, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 673135m, N 679476m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.861229, -6.913926
Archaeological stream assessment was conducted at Oakpark, near Carlow town, as part of pre-development requirements for the IDA business park. An impact assessment highlighted the stream as an area of archaeological potential. The present work sought to further assess the nature of the stream, and to pinpoint the location and extent of any exposed archaeology. The channel is located immediately north-west of an 18th-century estate wall and is close to a circular enclosure. The works in the vicinity of the stream include fencing and tree planting.
Twentieth-century agricultural material was recorded within the stream and there was evidence that the streambed had been dredged during that period. The presence of manhole covers for storm drain culverts located c. 5m landward of the banks indicates further disturbance. The northern 200m of the stream survey does not appear to have been affected in recent times but a 19th-century field drain was observed in the bank. The estate wall was 1.7m south-east of the stream bank and was 2m high where still intact. Features within the wall included a contemporary culvert filled by a metal grille and an entrance to the estate bounded by piers. There was nothing to suggest the presence of a bridge or earlier fording point in this location.
