2013:005 - MALL EAST AND VICTORIA STREET, ARMAGH, Armagh

The proposed development is located on the corner of the Mall East with Victoria Street within the city of Armagh with the site consisting of an inverted L-shaped plot of land measuring 30m north-north-west to south-south-east by 30m at its widest point. The development relates to the construction of 10 apartments and associated on-site parking at ground level within the apartment block. Groundworks associated with the site will also include the provision of services to the apartment block while a private amenity space will also be created within the north-east corner of the site.
The city of Armagh is well known as an archaeological and historical settlement. Linked in legend to St Patrick and known as the ecclesiastical capital of Ulster it is no surprise that there are 24 recorded archaeological sites within a 1km radius of the proposed development representing activity dating from the prehistoric to post-medieval periods.
It is because of this rich heritage that NIEA:Built Heritage has given the NISMR number ARM012-101 to Armagh city. This is an umbrella number that covers the core of the town and includes the majority of the 24 archaeological sites within the 1km radius. The proposed development falls within this area of great archaeological and historical significance and is therefore covered by this SMR number. However, no recorded archaeological sites are located within the actual boundaries of the proposed development with the majority being located to the west.
Given the archaeological sensitivity of the site, NIEA:Historic Monuments Unit required archaeological mitigation be employed in relation to the proposed development. It was proposed that the development be carried forward in two phases with the first phase relating to enabling works around the entrance to the site with the second phase relating to the main development of the site. Archaeological mitigation proposed and agreed in relation to this, saw groundworks under the first phase enabling works carried out under archaeological supervision while, in phase two, a series of test trenches would be excavated under archaeological supervision across the remaining majority of the site prior to the main development commencing. Archaeological mitigation relating to the Phase 1 enabling works was carried out on 14 January 2013. Excavation relating to the laneway widening revealed made ground including modern building rubble to formation level with no evidence of glacial subsoil uncovered. Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered during monitoring of the Phase enabling works.

c/o Archaeological Development Services Ltd, 96 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1TE