2008:1197 - Ranfurly House, Castle Hill, Dungannon, Tyrone

The proposed development takes the form of an extension to the rear of Ranfurly House and comprises the rear walled terraced garden. Located within the historic settlement area of Dungannon, Ranfurly House is the former Northern Bank (Historic Building 13/20/009), which dates from around 1855 and is a two-storey structure built in an Italianate style to the designs of the architects Lanyon and Lynn. Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA): Historic Buildings awarded Ranfurly House Grade B1 listed protected status in 1977. Situated as it is in the north-east end of Market Square, it lies immediately adjacent to Castle Hill. Castle Hill has been awarded a scheduled protected status and is located in an area of high archaeological importance as defined by NIEA.
Given the archaeologically sensitivity of the site it was proposed that it be evaluated by a single trench dug between the boundary of the proposed development with Castle Hill and the rear of Ranfurly House. In August 2008 an evaluation trench measuring c. 6.7m by 5.6m was excavated in the western half of the back garden. For safety reasons the trench edges were stepped at a depth of 1m, and an inner area measuring 4m by 4m within the trench was excavated further down to undisturbed natural deposits.
The results of the evaluation have shown that stratified archaeological deposits, features and structures survive in the area, consisting of several phases of post-medieval activity. The earliest phase is represented by a series of post-holes, which may indicate the presence of possible structures or fence lines. The site was subsequently levelled and the earliest activity was sealed by a dumped layer of redeposited clay. Evidence of post-medieval garden activity was also encountered. Several features cutting into the clayey levelling layer were recorded and comprise a cluster of pits and a series of post-holes. These were sealed by series of post-medieval garden-soil deposits.
A substantial vaulted subterranean masonry structure was encountered in the northern end of the trench. Internal facing of the structure had been rendered and the structure has been preliminarily interpreted as a possible vaulted cellar. Dating evidence, such as post-medieval pottery, glass and fragments of clay pipe, were recovered from several of the excavated contexts. A copper-alloy coin was retrieved from the infill of the masonry structure. Several contexts also produced fragments of animal bone. An unstratified find was also of note: a piece of post-medieval pottery reshaped to function as a circular gaming piece.
The site has further potential to significantly add to our understanding of the development and subsequent growth of the settlement at Dungannon. The evaluation has shown that deposits of archaeological potential survive across the terraced garden area of the site. Previous excavations in the area have also shown that archaeological features, such as defensive ditches, may survive in the lower areas beyond the higher terrace.
It is anticipated that a further phase of archaeological work will be undertaken on this site in advance of the proposed development.