County: Cavan Site name: Redhills Demesne
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 13E0455
Author: Martin McGonigle
Site type: Medieval/post-medieval wall
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 644616m, N 817047m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.100567, -7.317854
Testing was undertaken on 20 December 2013 within the farmyard of Redhills Estate, Redhills, Co. Cavan. The proposed new farm buildings are located to the north and west of a Fortified House (CV012-005). A total of 8 linear test trenches were excavated under supervision. The foundations of substantial walls were identified in trenches T1 and T2. No features, finds or deposits of archaeological significance were found in T3–T8, nor within a scan of the topsoil from these trenches.
The foundations of a wall (Wall 1) orientated north-east/south-west and measuring between 0.8–1m in width was identified in T1 and in the north-western end of T2. Three returns were also identified, one of which was very substantial, being over 1.5m in width. There was evidence in T2 of a possible internal floor or yard surface to the south-east of Wall 1. This appears to consist of rough cobbles bedded into gravel, overlying a thin layer of mortar.
The historic mapping clearly shows the fortified house, which dates to the early 17th century, located approximately 40m south-south-west of Wall 1. There is no evidence on any of the maps (both historic and recent) for any structure or wall where Wall 1 is located. In fact, this area is shown on the earliest historic maps as planted with trees, which suggests that this possible building here had been removed by at least 1830 and may have been contemporary with or older than the fortified house.
John Cronin & Associates, 28 Upper Main St, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
