2012:618 - WINDTOWN, Westmeath

Assessment and predevelopment testing were carried out in November and December 2012. The proposed development comprised of an extension to St Feichín’s National School, Windtown, Fore. The development site was situated immediately south of a medieval wayside cross (WM008-006) set into the boundary wall of the school. The school and adjacent area of the extension were located on a terrace cut into the steeply sloping valley side. The area of the site was in use as a car park and covered in tarmac 0.1m thick over a layer of graded stone 0.2–0.3m deep. Four post-medieval subsoil-cut pits were identified in the north of the site and are thought to be related to the early use of the school in the late 19^th century. The truncated remains of three features [05], [14] and [16] were identified exposed in section along the western limits of excavation. Feature [05] had a U-shaped profile, measured 0.8m wide and 0.2m deep and contained a dark grey sandy silt fill. A pair of features thought to represent the remains of pits were located in the extreme south-west of the investigated area. The larger pit [14] had a U-shaped profile, measured 1.6m wide x 0.7m deep and contained a dark brown silty clay fill with frequent charcoal inclusions. Pit [16] was located 0.08 m north of [14] had a U-shaped profile measured 0.46m wide x 0.27m deep and contained an orange brown silty clay fill with charcoal fleck inclusions. Features [05], [14] and [16] had formerly been larger and had extended to the east but had been removed during the construction of the level terrace occupied by the school. These features extend beyond the western limits of the development and are of unknown date and function.