County: Wexford Site name: Maudlintown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WX037-042 Licence number: 13E258
Author: Mary Henry
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 705676m, N 620618m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.326996, -6.449637
Testing was undertaken at a site on the outskirts of Wexford town. Planning permission was granted on this industrial site for re-development works. These works included new car-parking, new access road and a new entrance into the site. The site was located beside a church site and graveyard. A narrow lane separated the site from the monument. Furthermore the development site was within the grounds of Rockland House, a Protected Structure, which was built in the late 18th century.
A total of eight test trenches were opened on the site of the proposed re-development works. A number of restrictions existed on the site and it was not possible to position trenches in certain areas of proposed disturbance. For instance, it was not possible to position test trenches in the area of the existing reservoir, an area that will be re-developed for car-parking. Furthermore the existing lane which separates the site from the church site and graveyard and which is to be widened to accommodate the new access road and footpath/cyclepath, was very narrow, bounded by high stone walls, possibly without foundations and had a watermain, centrally located, extending along its length. Accordingly, it was not possible to position test trenches along or within the immediate vicinity of the lane. Both the existing reservoir and the lane were the nearest areas to the church site and graveyard.
A number of features were identified within the test trenches, although none were of antiquity. It was noticeable both the topsoil and subsoil had been manually well-worked for horticultural purposes. This was particularly relevant in the north-eastern corner of the site within the vicinity of Trenches 5 and 6. It was considered the lawn and flower beds were created as part of the development associated with the two bungalows on the site. The two large rubbish pits were also uncovered but were considered to be contemporary with the bungalow construction in and around the middle of the last century.
Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd, 17 Staunton Row, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
