2011:409 - SARSFIELD STREET, KILMALLOCK, Limerick

Two separate extensions to the original licence (issued to Bruce Sutton and subsequently transferred to Lee Scotland) were applied for. The first was undertaken as part of the pre-planning assessment for the extension to the ‘SuperValu’ supermarket. Two trenches, measuring 1.8m by 1m, were excavated to determine the location and extent of the town wall situated subsurface and to the rear of the supermarket (NGR 160845 127632). Within Trench 1, the town wall was located in the north-western half, projecting 0.88m from the side of the trench. The top of the town wall was exposed at a depth of 0.6–0.7m below ground level and was stepped with a basal plinth. Within Trench 2, the town wall was found in the north-western half, projecting 0.46m from the side of the trench. The top of the wall was exposed at a depth of 0.66–0.8m below present ground level. In both trenches it was apparent that the town wall had been significantly disturbed in the past, with only its lowest courses and plinth remaining in poor condition subsurface. The recovery of modern finds would be in keeping with the fact that anecdotally the town wall was supposed to have been levelled at this location in recent times.

The second licence extension was undertaken to address a request for further information in relation to the planning application. Three separate areas were test-trenched as part of this phase of the project. The first was located inside the town wall at the rear of the property known locally as Creggs (NGR 160838.090 127657.937). Here two trenches were excavated abutting the town wall to establish the nature of the wall; after initial site clearance it became apparent that sections of the wall nearest to the supermarket had been repaired using rubble from the wall (presumably from the original rubble core) bonded using concrete. Both trenches exposed the continuation of the town wall but neither could be excavated to a sufficient depth to expose the base of the wall.

The second area tested was on the outside of the town wall (NGR 160825.087 127648.935). The defensive fosse of the wall was exposed within the trenches to the north-west of the car park and outside the wall. A number of other features were also identified in this area, including a possible boundary ditch depicted on a map dated to c. 1600 and known as the Joanes’ Map.

The third area, which was the largest of the three, extended to the south-east of the current car park, adjacent to a number of structures fronting onto the R515 Charleville road (NGR 160808.084 127528.909). This area had previously been tested by Rory Sherlock (Sheila Lane and Associates) as part of a now-defunct housing development (LI047-097; Excavations 2003, no. 1164, 03E1609). The testing identified numerous linear features which could not be definitively interpreted or dated, although most could clearly be considered agricultural in nature and, stratigraphically, several phases were clearly identified. Several larger linear features, one of which appeared to have an associated bank, may be indicative of alternative activities taking place. The lack of post-medieval or modern finds from these features or the overlying topsoil (the only finds recovered from this area were several sherds of medieval pottery) would suggest that many of these features date from the medieval period. The draining of the Ash Hill Lough may, however, have had an undefined impact on this area.

ÆGIS Archaeology Limited, 32 Nicholas Street, King’s Island, Limerick