2012:211 - North Wall Quay, Dublin, Dublin

A programme of monitoring was carried out during works associated with the North Wall Quay Environmental Improvement and Bus Priority Scheme. Continuous monitoring of all ground disturbances was undertaken over the course of five months between April and August 2012. A total of six walls were identified within the trench located on the north side of street along North Wall Quay (Wall A–F). The most substantial of these was an east–west running wall (Wall A) which ran the length of the development works parallel to the current quay face (c. 460m in length). The wall was located c. 25m north of the current quay and was identified c. 0.55m beneath the current ground surface.

The wall had a depth of at least c. 4.3m and had a slight batter on the north face. The total depth of the wall was not identified during excavations. Brookings Map of 1728 shows the first depiction of the reclamation of the North Lotts, including a wall to the north of the quay wall, which formed a causeway. The quay was later rebuilt in the 19th century and it is probable that Wall A represents the back (or northern) wall of the late 19^th-century quay structure. However it cannot be ruled out completely that the wall represents the earlier 18^th-century structure. A further east–west running wall (Wall B) was identified to the immediate north of Wall A. This wall consisted of large stone blocks located beneath the surface of the road; however it was shallow and only survived as a number of courses. Four additional north–south running wall foundations (Wall C–F) were identified running at right angles to Wall A. These were not substantial in size and were in poor condition. Walls B–F represent the remains of pre-existing structures shown on North Wall Quay on the early 19th century maps.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow