2010:229 - Corporation North, Newtownards, Down

The development site was located in the area to the south-east of Newtownards within an area between the Comber and Strangford Roads. It lies adjacent to Castle Gardens or Castle Bawn (DOW006–019). The site is located in the low-lying former tidal area of Strangford Lough.
The investigation at the Tesco site in Newtownards commenced with an extensive desk-based assessment. Excavation of geotechnical test-pits for engineering purposes was monitored in April. Two large trial areas, measuring approximately 30m by 20m, were excavated down to 3m depth during June and July 2010. The development area was also topsoil-stripped at this stage. Piling works commenced in late July and involved excavating trenches and piling caps in order to clear the areas of hardcore and services. The groundworks were called off in August and the development of the site put on hold.
The earliest deposits recorded during the investigations consisted of tidal silt and sand formations encountered throughout the site. Concentrations of marine shells were noted within the tidal silt and sand formations. Limpets and periwinkles were the most abundant shells, although oyster, mussel, razor shell and dog whelk were also present. The marine deposits were sealed by a layer of clean orange/brown sand overlaid by topsoil and modern overburden.
Evidence of post-medieval agricultural activity was encountered across the site. A series of shallow field furrows and field ditches were encountered, visible against the clean sands. Along the western extent of the site the furrows and ditches were aligned roughly north–south. Within the north-east third of the site the furrows were aligned roughly west-south-west/east-north-east. Both alignments are consistent with the field systems depicted in the 1860 OS map. Furthermore, pottery of probable 19th-century date was observed within the fills of the furrows.