County: Down Site name: KILBRONEY ROAD, ROSTREVOR
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/10/52E
Author: David Kilner, Archaeological Development Services Ltd, Unit 6, 21 Old Channel Road, Belfast, BT3 9DE.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 718617m, N 819592m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.111704, -6.185853
An evaluation took place at a proposed development site at Kilbroney Road on the north-east outskirts of Rostrevor in County Down. The proposed development site consists of an irregularly shaped plot with maximum dimensions of approximately 140m north to south by 110m. It is proposed to construct thirteen dwellings on the site, including five semi-detached and eight detached properties.
The proposed development is located within an archaeologically sensitive area, with two recorded archaeological sites within close proximity. A multi-period ecclesiastical site (DOW051–058) is located directly opposite, to the south-east across the Kilbroney Road. This was originally a monastic site associated with St Bronach and founded during the 6th century, though the current church remains are medieval and believed to date to the 15th century. A standing stone (DOW054–018) is located approximately 150m to the south. This stone overlooks the Rostrevor River valley to the east and a second standing stone (DOW054–019) located 250m to the south.
Six test-trenches were excavated on 19 April 2010. All trenches revealed a great deal of modern disturbance, with the original ground level reduced to subsoil/bedrock and then raised with imported fill material including builders’ debris and refuge. Nothing of archaeological significance was noted during the evaluation.
