2012:603 - Waterford, Waterford

Monitoring was undertaken of Site Investigation Works (SIW) along the proposed Water Mains Rehabilitation Work of Waterford city and its environs. The SIW were located within Waterford city and throughout the suburban area.
The SIW component of the scheme was located in and around Waterford city centre and its environs, covering a length of c. 22kms. They were located on several different streets/roads within the city centre and its environs. Sections of the works were sited within the confines of the Zone of Archaeological Potential (ZAP) for Waterford city. Furthermore, Waterford city was walled during the Viking and medieval period. In addition to the historic town of Waterford City, there are other recorded archaeological monuments in the County Waterford RMP within the vicinity of the scheme. These monuments (WA009-004, WA009-005, WA009-008, WA009-018, WA010-006 and WA010-007) were located in the suburban areas of Waterford city.
The purpose of the SIW was to determine the location of the existing mains, their state of repair, presence of other services and existing ground conditions. The SIW entailed the excavation of a large number of both trial pits and slit trenches along the proposed pipeline routes and at junctions where the proposed pipeline connects into the existing network. The trial pits consisted three types according to size: measuring 2m x 1m, 2m x 2m, and 3m x 1m. Regarding the investigative slit trenches, which were sited on the road and footpath, they varied in length from 5m to 12m and a width of 0.6m. In addition a small number of test trenches (ARC) were opened specifically for archaeological purposes.
In the course of monitoring the SIW component of the scheme, a number of potential archaeological features were uncovered in the openings, all of which were within the medieval walled city. Totalling seven features in all, five were of potential archaeological interest. The first one was uncovered on Patrick Street; two on John’s Lane and two on Carrigeen Park and King’s Terrace. The final two may be of lesser significance, one on Carrigeen Park and King’s Terrace and another feature on Alexander Street.
Within ARC3 and ARC4 test trenches, both of which were opened at the location of St Patrick’s Gate on Patrick Street, a feature of archaeological potential was uncovered. The test trench was aligned east-west whilst the second test trench extended northwards at right angles. The first feature comprised a large foundation wall/surface. Built of irregular blocks of limestone and bonded with a light yellow mortar, it had a defined edge and a maximum width of 1.22m. A total length of 5.1m was exposed in the first test trench and it had a thickness of 0.1-0.5m. However, it had been damaged by previous pipe laying. The position of this feature, at the location of St Patrick’s Gate, was of particular note and it may be part of the elaborate structure of the gate, a double rectangular towered gate with a possible outer barbican.
Along John’s Lane, two features were identified. The remains of a wall, built of limestone and slate, was exposed within the rubble fill in a slit trench. Aligned north/south, it had an exposed width of 0.6m and 0.6m deep. It had a stepped rubble mortar base, located 0.6m below the top of the wall. The function of this wall remains unknown. A possible cobbled surface was exposed within a slit trench, 0.3m below the street surface. This surface was highly disturbed.
Three features were identified along Carrigeen Park and King’s Terrace. In one slit trench two features were uncovered, one feature comprising a loose lime mix/band and the other feature consisting a bonded red brick and rubble feature. The lime mortar mix/band was considered to be a floor whilst the bonded red brick feature was situated within the floor at the north-east end of the slit trench. Foundations for a building were identified at the east end of another slit trench. This foundation may be post-medieval or relatively modern, associated with a building at the Carrigeen Park/Patrick Street junction.
Foundations were also exposed on Alexander Street, within the northern end of a trial pit. Built of red and yellow brick and fragmented slate, it had a width of 0.6m, aligned east-west across the full width of the trench and had been damaged by previous pipe-laying. Again this foundation is likely to be late post-medieval or relatively modern in date.
Regarding the SIW in the suburban areas, nothing of archaeological interest was found in the investigative openings.

Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd, 17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary