2010:657 - Grattan Quay, Waterford, Waterford

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Waterford Site name: Grattan Quay, Waterford

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 10D41; 10R135

Author: Eoghan Kieran, Moore Marine Services, Corporate House, Ballybrit Business Park, Galway.

Site type: Riverine

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 659887m, N 612962m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.265100, -7.122641

Moore Marine Services Ltd was commissioned by Malone O’Regan to carry out an underwater impact assessment of a proposed piled road suspension structure at Grattan Quay, Waterford. The assessment took place on 23 September 2010. Water flow at the time of the survey was moderate with very poor visibility. The maximum recorded water depth was 1.5m. The assessment was commissioned in order to locate, define and ascertain the character, condition and extent of any archaeological features, deposits or objects which may be affected by the development.
Waterford has a rich heritage and desktop analysis of the historical and archaeological background to the site recorded that the proposed development site was previously used as a working quay with wharves and was within 500m of a number of RMP sites, including the historic town of Waterford. There were no protected structures in the immediate vicinity of the site. Assessment of cartographic sources revealed that the site was riverside bordering the rear of buildings along Mary Street until the late 19th century, when Grattan Quay was constructed. The construction of this quay facilitated the docking of ships along small pontoon wharves built along its length.
The site survey recorded that there was a large volume of metallic, masonry and plastic debris noted in the intertidal zone. The range of material in this area varied considerably and, although all the visible and detectable material was modern, there was potential for this area to contain buried archaeological artifacts.
With the exception of the quay wall, little historical construction appears to have taken place in the development area. It is not anticipated that the development would have a large impact on the cultural heritage of the area.