2012:585 - Castle Hill, Dungannon, Tyrone

The proposed development concerned enhancing the existing Castle Hill site as a visitor attraction involving the construction of grassed and gravel pathways, curved stepped ramps, viewing platforms and landscaping while a new access was created from Northland Row/Circular Road to the north-east. Other associated features included information boards, fencing, street lighting, bollards, drainage and planting. Monitoring of groundworks commenced in May 2011 and continued until June 2012.
During the development the contractor sub-divided the site into eight zones and, for ease of discussion, these are referenced in terms of groundworks carried out under archaeological supervision as well as the archaeological deposits/features uncovered. The majority of archaeological features/deposits were uncovered during the main groundworks which took place in 2011. Details of these have been already outlined in the 2011 excavation bulletin for this site (Excavations 2011, No. 585).
The groundworks in 2012 were generally less intrusive though ground reduction works were carried out within three areas: Zone 2: The Hill Knox-Hannyngton Towers/Informal Area and Zone 5B & 5C: The Garden.

Zone 2: The Hill Knox-Hannyngton Towers/Informal Area
Groundworks within this area included the reduction of existing ground level within the Knox-Hannyngton Towers including defining the footprint of the house. These groundworks revealed that the interior of the house had been filled with demolition debris both relating to the former house and also of modern date. There was no evidence for the former external and internal walls of the house below ground to formation level which suggested that these had been removed. However, the previously buried parts of the current upstanding remains of the house were recorded to formation level. These suggested that the house had a basement level with brick-lined windows and doorways. This corresponded with recorded historical and archaeological information which noted a brick-built servants’ tunnel entering the house from the north-east.
The remains of a sandstone rubble masonry wall were also uncovered adjacent to the south-west tower on a level with the basement. This wall appeared to be orientated west to east though had been truncated to the west by later activity. There was originally a gap between this wall and the west wall of the house which suggested that an entrance had been set at this location. However, this was later blocked up with a rubble masonry wall. This rubble masonry wall possibly dated to the 19th century when the house went out of use and fell derelict.
All built features uncovered during this work were subsequently reburied and left in situ within the development.

Zone 5B: The Garden
This Zone is set on the north-east slope of Castle Hill running to the north and east boundary walls. Groundworks within this area included the construction of pathways and gabion walls with associated services as well as the shaping of the existing hillside. Monitoring of groundworks revealed that the formation level was generally within a layer of hillwash. Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered within this Zone.

Zone 5C: The Garden
The main groundworks in this area have been related to grading levels associated with the south ramp. Subsoil has been encountered down-slope though ground levels have largely been raised within this area. A possible small ditch and a portion of probable 19th-century cobbled pathway were uncovered within the footprint of the ramp in 2011.
An upstanding section of 19th-century wall was also recorded within this area. This rubble masonry wall ran west from the east boundary wall which it abutted and was consistent with an internal dividing wall shown on the Third Edition OS map sheet (1933). Construction of drainage and a gabion wall involved the removal of a 4m section of the wall during 2012 though the remainder of the wall was left in situ.

C/O ADS Ltd 96 University Street, Belfast BT7 1HE.