2008:1281 - 39 Esmond Street, Gorey, Wexford

Groundworks were undertaken over four days from 15 April 2008 at No. 39 Esmond Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford. The development consisted of the replacement of a ‘two up, two down’ house with two shop units and an office unit. An assessment was required as a condition of the grant of planning. The demolition of the existing structure was monitored. Following the demolition of the house five cultivation furrows were uncovered during groundworks in the rear garden. Three of these were situated below the build’s finished floor level and will be preserved in situ. The finds recovered from these furrows indicate they are most likely to be 18th/19th-century in date. The remaining two furrows will be removed by the construction of the rear boundary wall for the new development. These were excavated and found to contain mainly 19th-century pottery.
In total of 66 ceramic sherds were recovered from the site, mainly consisting of red earthernwares, blackware, creamware and porcelain, with some clay-pipe sherds. These were all 18th–19th-century in date. With the exception of the furrows, no further archaeological features were encountered.