2012:018 - CRANMORE PLAYING FIELDS, BELFAST, Antrim

Monitoring of groundworks was carried out as a required planning condition in relation to a proposed development adjacent to Cranmore House (ANT064-093) at the Cranmore Playing Fields on the Malone Road in Belfast, County Antrim. Cranmore House is believed to date to the 17th century, and is, as such, the oldest building in Belfast.
Initial work on this project began in 2009 when NIEA: Historic Monuments Unit required that a built fabric survey and archaeological testing were carried out in order to provide more information regarding upstanding structures on the site as well as any sub-surface archaeological features that may exist (Excavations 2009, No. 18, AE/09/112). The fabric survey was carried out by Kara Ward on 12 May 2009 with members of NIEA: Historic Monuments Unit in attendance. This entailed the removal of render on the existing groundkeeper’s dwelling to expose the underlying brick. A total of three locations specified by the attending members of NIEA: Historic Monuments Unit were examined revealing that the current dwelling dated to the 20th century. Testing was then carried out on 23 June 2009 at two locations specified by NIEA: Built Heritage Caseworker for the Belfast area.
On the results of the fabric survey and archaeological testing, NIEA: Historic Monuments Unit decided that the proposed development could proceed under supervision with specific recording carried out in relation to a possible length of wall footing uncovered. This wall footing appeared similar in built fabric to Cranmore House and it was surmised that it could be a contemporary feature.
Main groundworks relating to the replacement of the groundskeeper’s dwelling commenced in July 2012 with the possible wall footing entirely exposed. It extended for 6.55m with a maximum width of 0.45m. As noted during the 2009 testing, the wall footing was constructed with large cobble-like boulders with some red brick and fragments of slate mixed. A section of the footing approximately 0.4m long was missing and this appeared to correspond with the section removed for investigation during the evaluation in 2009.
Discussion with the contractor revealed that the majority of the feature would be located outside the limit of development. Given this, it was expected that the majority of the feature would remain undisturbed and left in situ. However, the contractor did note that approximately 3.3m of the south-east extent of the wall footing was located within the footprint of the proposed new dwelling and, as such, would be impacted upon. This area was excavated and recorded whereupon it was found that the stones, brick and slate of the south-east extent of the wall footing was not set within a foundation cut but instead were set directly on a layer of light brown friable, silty clay which filled a cut for a shallow ditch approximately 1.18m wide by 0.32m deep. This ditch was excavated into subsoil which consisted of orange sandy clay.
The line of the wall footing respected the line of the ditch and excavation of the fill had recovered quantities of 19th-century pottery, glass and red brick. Similar material was also recovered from around and under the wall footing. As such, it appeared that the wall footing and ditch were contemporary and related. Given the presence of the 19th-century material from in and under the wall footing, it would appear that this feature dates to the 19th century. Additionally, the setting of the wall footing on the fill of the ditch suggested that the structure was not related to a building but was more likely a garden feature. The extant wall footing was covered in terram after recording and reburied under imported gravel used to form a working surface for the development.
Further groundworks carried out during the development included the excavation of trenches for foundations, services and drainage. Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered during monitoring of these groundworks.

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