2008:1250 - 15 Waterside, Waterford, Waterford

Testing was undertaken at the proposed site of a two-storey building at the rear of No. 15 Waterside, Waterford city. The site was within the historic town of Waterford (WA009–005) and was located on the south-eastern side of the city and on the northern bank of John’s Pill River. St John’s Bridge, which provides access over John’s Pill, is located c. 50m to the west. The bridge itself dates from the medieval period when it served as an important access route to the city. Extant portions of the old city wall are located to the north of the proposed development.
Two linear trenches were excavated across the footprint of the proposed development. Both trenches were excavated to a depth of 1.5m before natural, a blue/grey marl, was uncovered. Above this was brown/grey silt to a depth of 0.25m which appeared naturally lain. Over this silt was a deposit of dark-grey silt with frequent sub-angular stone to a depth of 0.14m and again appearing naturally lain. A deposit of brown/grey silty clay overlay these silt deposits; this deposit had inclusions of broken red brick and modern porcelain pottery and was 0.28m in depth. Above this deposit was yellow/brown sand with broken red brick and was 0.2m deep. A lens of black gritty sandy silt to a depth of 0.08m separated the yellow/brown sand from another deposit of yellow/brown sand with frequent broken red brick that was also 0.2m in depth. No features or finds were noted.