County: Dublin Site name: Thomas Court, Dublin
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU018-0200074 Licence number: 14E0096
Author: Aisling Collins
Site type: Post-medieval urban
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 714433m, N 733859m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.342570, -6.281523
Monitoring was undertaken of the construction of an extension to a house at 31 Thomas Court, Dublin on 30 May and 3 June 2014. The house is located in an area of high archaeological potential. A 19th-century cesspit, or cesspool was uncovered, which is a pit, conservancy tank, or covered cistern which can be used to dispose of urine and feces, and more generally of all sewage and refuse. It is a more antiquated solution than a sewer system. Traditionally, it was a deep cylindrical chamber dug into the earth, having approximate dimensions of 1m diameter and 2–3m depth. Their appearance was similar to that of a hand-dug water well. There was slate present which may have provided a covering for it. Cess pits were used from the 16th century but 19th-century reform introduced laws that they be made of brick or concrete to avoid water contamination – this one appears to fit the description of the 19th-century type of cess pit.
Finds included possible medieval jar handle, 17 sherds of 18th ,19th and 20th-century coarse and fine pottery, three fragments of 19-20th-century bottle glass, two 19th-century clay pipe stems, a 20th-century plastic doll’s leg, two oyster shells and some fragments of animal bone. No other archaeology was identified during monitoring.
ACAS, Annesley Mews, Brighton Ave, Monsktown, Co Dublin
