County: Tipperary Site name: St Mary’s Avenue, Thurles
Sites and Monuments Record No.: TN041–042 Licence number: 10E0044
Author: Mary Henry, Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd, 17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Site type: Urban
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 612707m, N 656703m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.661365, -7.812152
Testing was undertaken subsequent to a request for further information as part of planning retention for the demolition of a garage and store and to build a new garage/utility room and connect to services. The new building had been partially built. The site was located to the east of Thurles town centre, along the south side of St Mary’s Avenue and close to St Mary’s Church and graveyard. St Mary’s Avenue is within the zone of archaeological potential for Thurles town.
Two trenches were opened within the site to the south and south-west of the partially constructed building, on lines of proposed services. No archaeological features or deposits were revealed, although a rubble floor and pit were recorded both dating to the modern period. It was noticeable the rubble floor was sealed with a layer of redeposited natural imported from outside the immediate vicinity, which was covered with gravel to form a hard surface. The rubble floor was also immediately above the natural deposition and it was considered that this area was stripped prior to the laying of the floor.
Local information revealed this site was a brewery until the latter half of the 20th century, with a large lean-to shed aligned north–south along the eastern boundary wall. It was therefore considered the features identified during the archaeological testing are associated with this structure.
