County: Louth Site name: 1–3 Church Street, Dundalk
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 07E0190
Author: Buckley, V. & Sweetman, P.D. 1991 Archaeological survey of County Louth. Dublin. Eoin Sullivan, Gort Archaeology, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
Site type: Urban – cellar
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 704741m, N 807712m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.008005, -6.402077
A pre-planning test excavation was undertaken on 16 March 2007 at the rear of No. 2 Church Street, Dundalk. The site of the proposed development is located within the zone of archaeological potential for Drogheda as outlined by the Urban Archaeological Survey. In addition, the site of the proposed development is adjacent to the graveyard associated with the medieval parish church of St Nicholas. The church was largely rebuilt in 1707 but contains many medieval remains especially in the tower at the south-west angle (Buckley and Sweetman 1991, 261). The proposed development consisted of a minor three-storey extension to the rear of Nos 2 and 3 Church Street. It was not possible to assess the rear of No. 2 due to it being in use as an active business with associated services.
The yard to the rear of No. 3 was assessed on the basis of two mechanically excavated test-pits. The test-pits revealed the presence of a basement to a depth of 2m below the surface level of the adjacent graveyard. The cellar is c. 2m wide and the spring of the cellar arch indicates that the cellar extends to and probably beyond the eastern site boundary wall.
No features of archaeological significance were identified during the assessment of the footprint of the proposed development.
Reference
Editor’s note: This summary arrived too late for inclusion in the 2007 bulletin.
