2014:487 - Fellows' Square, Trinity College, Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Dublin

Monitoring was carried out in Fellows’ Square, Trinity College Dublin as part of a programme of works involving the laying of a new wheelchair-accessible paths. It forms part of a previous programme of works which saw new paths installed all around Front Square and part of Library Square including a path extending into Fellows’ Square on the north-western side (just west of the Old Library) (Simpson, Excavations 2011, 208) During this monitoring, the very truncated remains of a wall was located lying just 0.3m below present ground level, which was identified as possibly representing part of the south-east corner of the original medieval quadrangle of the Priory of All Hallows/The Old College c.1592, although it was very damaged. In addition, limited deposits were found during the monitoring of works at the Trinity Long Room Hub, on the western side of the square (Simpson Excavations 2009, 309). These consisted of two small pits, one of which was medieval in date and produced medieval pottery. The second pit was 18th century in date but only the base was in situ. Both pits were cut into subsoil which lay 1.45m in depth from the present ground level in this location. Finally, monitoring carried out in the Provost’s garden, to the west of the site under discussion, revealed deep deposits of infill, clays, mortar, brick and rubble, which was used to build the ground level up by approximately 1.8m. This material is also likely to have originated in the big clearances of the mid-to-late 18th century which saw the old medieval quadrangle/Old College swept away in the creation of Front Square (Simpson, Excavations 2010, 264).

The construction programme involved laying the path on the western, northern and part of the eastern side of Fellow’s Square. The modern existing limestone setts, which were re-laid in the 1970s on a concrete screed, were removed mechanically and by hand and a new ducting laid which was then sealed with the new path. Not surprisingly, the new monitoring programme exposed rich infill deposits consisting of dark organic clays, which contained brick, shell, ash, cinders and animal bone and was identical to that found in other areas of college including the Provost’s Garden. These deposits represent dumped domestic refuse, probably from the college itself, which was dumped in this area in an organized way to infill the ground. They can be dated from the mid-to-late 18th century onwards and are therefore likely to be related to the massive reconstruction of the college and the creation of the monumental Parliament Square (Front Square). This work involved the demolition of the old college buildings and additional buildings including most of Library Square.

Typical profile

Trench 1: Profile

0 - 0.1m: Modern setts. 

0.13 - 0.26m: Concrete screed. 

0.26 - 0.4m+ Mixed dark brown organic fill, containing animal bone, charcoal fleck, cinders, ash and shell.

The monitoring programme was very limited in depth and previous investigations suggest that the subsoil on the west side of the square is likely to lie approximately 1.45m below present ground level (The Long Room Hub) therefore well below the level required for the paths. It is certainly the case that medieval layers may survive at a deeper level as previous monitoring on the west side of the square established at least one medieval pit survived in this location. What was surprising was the fact the organic infill of the post-medieval period was so close to the surface with no rubble interface as elsewhere in the college.

28 Cabinteely Close, Cabinteely, Dublin 18