County: Fermanagh Site name: HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, LISNASKEA
Sites and Monuments Record No.: FER246–065 Licence number: AE/09/178
Author: David Kilner and Vincent McClorey, Archaeological Development Services Ltd, Unit 6, Old Channel Road, Belfast, BT3 9DE.
Site type: Urban
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 636204m, N 833638m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.250304, -7.444456
The site is located within the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh. The proposed refurbishments concern the adjustment of levels at the church entrance in order to provide disabled access, a single-storey boiler house and disabled-access WC to be built at the rear of the church. There are twelve archaeological sites within a 1km radius of the proposed development. One of these sites, a Plantation-period church (FER246–065), is located within the boundaries of the proposed development. A second site of interest is Castle Balfour (FER246–057), built in 1619 by Sir James Balfour. The remains of this site are located immediately adjacent to the proposed development to the north-west.
It is anticipated that works will involve ground reduction of up to 0.3m at the front of the church. The boiler house/disabled-access WC will be located to the south-west of the church and will be a single-storey rectangular building measuring 7m long by 3.5m wide. The groundworks associated with this building will include the excavation of foundations and services.
The area of the boiler house/disabled-access WC was monitored in November 2009. It was discovered that the ground had been previously disturbed by the laying of a gravel surface which was found to be between 0.2m and 0.4m deep. This gravel surface immediately overlay bedrock with no archaeological deposits present.
When refurbishment works are completed in other areas, it is expected that the area to the front of the church will be started, probably in early 2010.
