2009:751 - SUIR ISLAND, CLONMEL (OLD BRIDGE TOWNLAND), Tipperary

Additional investigations were undertaken on Suir Island further to testing carried out in 2006 (Excavations 2006, No. 1837) to record the extent and nature of the surviving subsurface archaeological remains uncovered as part of the testing in 2006. In 2006 evidence was found for a mill. The archaeological investigations were sited towards the south side of Suir Island, which is located to the south of Clonmel town centre.
Two test-trenches were opened in 2006. Both trenches revealed a large number of features associated with the milling industry. The discoveries included flagstone floors, watercourses with associated features and part of the subterranean aspects of the front mill wall.
Testing revealed three known phases associated with milling on the south part of Suir Island. The first phase was manifest by the presence of a subterranean wall and a cobbled surface. Both of these features may be associated with an early mill which may even predate the known, documented 18th-century rape mill. Much more extensive evidence was found for the next milling phase; i.e. the northern and southern mills (Structures A and B respectively). The north mill was partially exposed as its northern remainder was outside the confines of the proposed flood-alleviation works, whilst the southern mill was also partially exposed for the same reason. Both of these mills were in use contemporarily for a period and were of likely 19th-century construction; they ceased to operate in the early years of the 20th century. It is not clear which was built first or if there was a previous building beneath the southern mill (Structure B). The final construction phase was the building of an engine house and ancillary rooms (Structure C) located to the rear of Structure B. It is unclear at this stage whether it was built on the partial footprint of Structure B or cut through it. This can only be conclusively established by excavation. What is known is that a large, well-constructed culvert extended beneath the engine house and it is possible it changes direction on to a north-east/south-west alignment as it exited the engine house and was part of the watercourse revealed in testing undertaken in 2006. Regarding the shallower culverts, it is considered probable they are part of an extensive subterranean management system, which traverses beneath these buildings, particularly Structures B and C.
It is likely that this mill will be fully excavated in 2010–2011.