2008:327 - Castle Espie, Down

This was the third phase of excavations at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Castle Espie. The excavations were principally involved with the continuing exposure of the industrial buildings constructed by Robert Murland on the site in the late 19th century; however, during the course of landscaping a shell midden was also uncovered.
Shell midden
As part of landscaping of the area test-trenching was undertaken, which revealed one significant archaeological feature, a shell midden. The midden was located 50m west of the eastern end of the development. It comprised principally oyster shells but also contained other species including limpets, razor shells and mussels. It encompassed an area roughly 10m2 and lay at a depth of 0.5m below the ground surface. A sample of shell was taken for radiocarbon dating. This returned a date of 2458–1933 cal bc (Queen’s University, Belfast, UBA9787), placing the shell midden within the Early Bronze Age. No further investigation of this feature was undertaken, as the decision was made to preserve it in situ. The midden was covered with a semi-permeable geotextile membrane and backfilled with topsoil. To prevent accidental damage during the cut operation, its position was marked by an enclosing fence.
The discovery of a shell midden in this area of the site was not unexpected, as three further shell middens (DOW167–016, DOW167–017 and DOW167–018) are within the immediate vicinity. These have previously been attributed to the Mesolithic period, but in light of the radiocarbon date obtained for this site this may need to be reassessed. Since excavation, the peninsula field shell midden has been scheduled and is now registered in the NIEA Sites and Monument Record as DOW11–032.
Limekiln
Prior to restoration works being undertaken on the limekiln, the vegetation which surrounded it was removed and the limekiln flues were excavated. The structure was then surveyed and scale elevations of the west and north faces and cross sections were produced. Once this work was completed restoration to stabilise the limekiln was begun.
The limekiln was the first industrial building constructed after Robert Murland had taken over the site. The tender for their construction was placed in the Downpatrick Recorder on the 31 March 1865. They were designed along the lines of the conventional ‘pot’ limekiln plan and the sales details state that the kilns were capable of producing 3000 tons of lime annually. During World War II this area was used as a firing range and the large gash in the façade of the kilns was caused at this time.
Hoffman kiln
Excavations at the Hoffman kiln were limited to the exposure of a 1m-wide strip around the circumference of the structure, the opening of an area 4m2 within the centre of the structure (to expose the central flues of the kiln) and the complete exposure of the chimney and the flue which connected it to the Hoffman.
Within the main body of the kiln, the newly exposed flues were found to be in good condition, showing little sign of degradation. The parts of the kiln exposed by the outer strip survived less well, with a number of the wickets lacking their brick flooring.
The central part of the chimney was excavated to a depth of 1.5m, 0.2m below the floor level of the flue which led into it. The chimney was full of brick rubble and was constantly filling with water. This water came both from the flue and also from the surrounding water table making the process of excavation increasingly difficult as it progressed. Once the base had been emptied to a depth of 1.5m, the process of removing the rubble which filled the flue was begun. The rubble was removed to a depth of 0.5m from the flue’s entry point into the chimney. At this stage the water was flowing in at such a high rate that even with two pumps running at full speed the level of the water did not reduce and the excavation of the flue and chimney interior had to be abandoned.
Excavation then concentrated on the top of the flue, which was exposed from its entry into the chimney up to the point where it met the main wall of the Hoffman kiln. The sides were uncovered to the level of the water table, c. 1.2m from the current ground surface. The flue was found to be in good condition, with the only damage visible where it entered the chimney and at the point where a manhole exited the chimney, a distance of 3m from the Hoffman outer wall. The flue was barrel-arched and two headers thick. The lower half of the arch of the flue was reinforced by another two partial layers of header-set bricks.
The manhole was badly damaged, with the uppermost course only partially surviving. Three badly twisted metal straps were found between the second and third courses (from the top), and a fourth strap was found during the mechanical excavation of the area and is assumed to be contemporary. These straps formed a lip which probably supported a metal manhole cover. The exterior dimension of the manhole from the surface of the flue to the top course of bricks was 1.5m2 and 0.5m deep, the internal, to the base of the flue, was 0.8m2 and 1.8m deep. Beneath the manhole the interior of the flue was filled with large rounded stones, which were probably deposited into the manhole when it collapsed to fill in the exposed void. These were removed to the level of the water table, c. 1.2m below the uppermost course of bricks. The join between the manhole and the flue had been reinforced with a thick iron band. This band would have been necessary, as the manhole created a weak point in the otherwise solid arch.
Once all excavation and recording had been completed, the manhole was reconstructed. The bricks used in the reconstruction were those recovered during the excavation of chimney and flue. The four metal straps were carefully bent back into shape and laid between the second and third courses. The structure was bonded with lime mortar.
Work started on the Hoffmann kiln in the middle of May 1866 and was finished by March the following year. The first firing of the new kiln took place on 18 March 1867 and the production of lime, bricks, field drainpipes and tiles commenced. Pottery manufacture started soon after. The industrial site ceased production in 1885, with the kiln eventually being demolished to allow for the construction of a private runway in the 1960s.