2012:361 - KILKENNY: Kytler’s Inn, St Kieran’s Street, Kilkenny

Testing was carried out at the rear of Kytler’s Inn as part of a pre-planning assessment associated with an application to extend the existing kitchen facilities. The area of proposed development is located within the footprint of and adjacent to Kytler’s Inn. The site is located within the zone of potential for the historic town of Kilkenny (KK019-026). Kytler’s Inn is recorded as a Protected Structure in the Kilkenny City & Environs Development Plan (2008–2014). Due to the relatively small nature of the development footprint, as well as limited space due to standing structures, one test trench was hand dug within the development area. It should be noted that this area did not previously form part of the Kytler’s Inn complex. The yard area is shown as a separate plot to the inn in the early OS mapping editions and historical maps dating to the 18th century.

The hand-dug trench measured 3m by 1m and had a depth of 1.45m. Subsoils were not reached and excavation at that depth halted due to 1.45m being the maximum required for construction. Water ingress at this level was apparent. No features of archaeological significance were identified. It appears that there is a significant amount of made ground in this area of the proposed extension.