County: Wexford Site name: Ballyorrill 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E004340
Author: Bruce Sutton, for TVAS (Ireland) Ltd, Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare.
Site type: Brick kiln
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 696969m, N 643364m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.532997, -6.570727
Ballyorrill 1 was discovered during centreline testing on the proposed M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme. The site was located in a subrectangular grassland field which was used for silage. The field was relatively flat, with a slight rise in the centre and at its northern extent.
Ballyorrill 1 was characterised as a post-medieval brick kiln. The site consisted of seven brick spreads, a possible brick-production area and possible remains of brick clamps.
The brick-production area was a roughly rectangular spread containing crushed brick fragments. The area measured 9.5m north–south by 3.5m within the site, but the full extent of the deposit could not be ascertained due to the presence of a bank and ditch to its western side and a hedge to its north.
An orange oxidised clay deposit that contained brick fragments measured 3.5m by 1.4m and was up to 0.05m thick. Beneath this deposit lay a mid-grey/brown silty clay deposit which contained a moderate amount of charcoal flecking. The irregular linear shape of these deposits may indicate that they represent a plough-damaged brick clamp. Further deposits of irregularly shaped crushed brick and oxidised clay, measuring between 2m and 6m long, were also recorded on the site.
