County: Dublin Site name: Stanhope Green, Stanhope Street, Dublin 7
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU018-020565- Licence number: 14E0051
Author: David J. O'Connor
Site type: Urban, Post Medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 714425m, N 734913m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.352053, -6.281302
Magnus Archaeology undertook archaeological monitoring of limited site disturbance works associated with the refurbishment of existing sheltered accommodation located in the old Stanhope Street convent building, Stanhope Street, Dublin 7. The site is within the notification zone of RMP DU018-020565- (16th / 17th century house). Archaeological monitoring took place under licence from the Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht on various dates in July, August and November 2014.
The likely remains of Grangegorman House, possibly dating back to 16th / 17th century, were observed surviving in-situ close to the existing ground surface. Elements of a masonry wall were partially exposed during the excavation of a shallow services trench and are thought to belong to the House. No associated dating evidence was found with the structure. The wall had previously been disturbed and cut through by a pipe trench in modern times. This allowed the current works to avoid interfering with the remains and keep them in-situ undisturbed. Any further ground disturbance works in this area is likely to expose other material associated with Grangegorman House.
The series of masonry walls uncovered in the area of the lift shaft pit are all likely associated with the convent and industrial school, which developed on site from the 1820s onwards. Two masonry walls, which pre-date the main convent buildings, are likely belonging to structures initially erected for the Girls Refuge but then replaced when the main structure itself was erected c.1830. The remaining masonry walls uncovered in the area of the lift shaft pit all appear to belong to a series of extension structures in the courtyard of the main convent buildings. An open brick drain was also observed.
The monitoring did not uncover any archaeological finds other than modern pottery sherds, oyster shell from disturbed 19th / 20th century contexts, brick fragments and broken sewer pipes. No further ground disturbance works are scheduled to take place as part of this development.
Magnus Archaeology, 57 Grianan Fidh, Aiken's Village, Sandyford, Dublin 18
