2013:395 - King John’s Castle, Limerick, Limerick

Monitoring of the groundworks associated with the renovation of the visitor centre and public areas at John’s Castle took place intermittently between December 2012 and May 2013; works also included the renovation of the structures along Castle Lane which were not subject to monitoring.

The monitoring was conducted in three distinct areas: the courtyard, below the visitor centre and exterior to the east wall including along a section of Castle Lane and Convent Street. Monitoring began with the excavation of service trenches within the courtyard followed by the excavation of a lift shaft pit below the visitor centre. The areas external to the castle began with the construction of a new ramped access and further service trenches. The final areas monitored were in the area of the undercroft within the castle courtyard. The works within the courtyard and in the external area were conducted by a mechanical digger while the works below the visitor centre and in the undercroft were carried out by hand. The spoil generated during the course of all excavations was periodically examined for archaeological material with a Minelab XTERRA 70 metal detector.

Much of the stratigraphy encountered consisted of modern formation layers and post-medieval to modern redeposited material made up predominately of rubble. The only areas where the stratigraphy differed was where groundworks were conducted in the areas of previous excavations and where the remains of the barracks and corporation houses were uncovered. The discovery of two possible walls and several deposits, all located within the undercroft which would have been located below the hall and constable’s chamber and most likely used for storage, were the only items of archaeological potential uncovered during monitoring. Though no datable material was forthcoming from the archaeological features and deposits exposed in the undercroft these are likely to be medieval in date. Following discussion with the design and construction team, these items of archaeological potential were recorded and retained in situ.

Elsewhere, two distinct phases of structural remains were uncovered in the courtyard of the castle. The latest, the remains of corporation houses, were of modern date and the earlier phase was likely the remains of the former barrack buildings; specifically it would appear that the remains were part of the soldiers’ quarters and the officers’ stable. None of the possible barrack structural remains were excavated so it was not possible to assess whether or not earlier structures had been incorporated. The only possible evidence of this came from a well or cistern where it was clear that the lower sections were made of stone whereas the upper were formed from brick.

Aegis Archaeology Ltd, 32 Nicholas Street, King’s Island, Limerick.