2013:359 - The Mall East and Victoria Street, Armagh, Armagh

The proposed development site was located on the corner of The Mall East and Victoria Street, Armagh city. The site consists 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 related to the construction of 10 apartments and associated onsite parking at ground level within the apartment block. Groundworks associated with the site also included the provision of services to the apartment block while a private amenity space would be created within the north-east corner of the site.

The city of Armagh is well known as an archaeological and historical settlement. It is linked in legend to St Patrick and is known as the ecclesiastical capital of Ulster. In total there are 24 recorded archaeological sites within a 1km radius of the proposed development, representing activity dating from the prehistoric to post-medieval periods.

The proposed development falls within ARM012-101 which covers the core of the town and includes the majority of the 24 recorded archaeological sites within the 1km radius. No recorded archaeological sites however, are located within the actual boundaries of 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 saw groundworks associated with the first phase enabling works carried out under supervision while, in phase two, a series of test trenches were excavated under supervision across the remaining majority of the site prior to the main development works commencing. Archaeological mitigation relating to both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 works, revealed nothing of archaeological significance.

Archaeological Development Services Ltd, 96 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE.