2014:519 - Former Meath Hospital, Heytesbury Street/Long Lane, Dublin 8, Dublin

The location of the development works is just outside the RMP boundary relating to the historic city core, DU18-020, where the former hospital is a protected structure under architectural heritage legislation and listed for protection in the Dublin City Development Plan 2011-2017 (No. 3818). The development is within the vicinity of DU018-020487, which relates to the medieval parish church and graveyard of St Kevin’s. The building adjacent to the monitored trench was constructed within the walled grounds of the Meath Hospital and County Dublin Infirmary after the publication of the Ordnance Survey 5 ft. map (Sheets 26 and 27, 1847), where the area is depicted as being open ground. A building is depicted on the revised 6 inch map (Sheet 18, 1876) which is possibly Henry Carson’s epidemic wards, constructed in 1874. This appears to have been demolished ahead of J.F. Fuller’s West Wing, the present structure on the site. Permission for the development was obtained from Dublin City Council (3282/13) with an archaeological condition that inter alia, an archaeologist be retained to advise regarding the potential impact of the development. The monitoring of groundworks was thus conditioned, comprising the construction of a pit for an exterior access lift to replace the existing raised ramp, and the excavation of services ducts adjacent to the Meath Campus City Lodge.

In response to a phone call in August reporting the discovery of suspected human bones, a narrow trench on the ground floor interior was inspected which was not subject to the monitoring condition. Two jointed bones were left in situ within the concrete slab below the floor level, which on inspection proved to be the knee joint of a pig (Sus), possibly comprising the lower section of the right humerus and the upper section of the adjoining radius, where the ulna was not present. The placing of animal remains within ground slabs is not unknown, although it is not particularly commonplace. In this instance it is probable that the leg was articulated (i.e. intact) and it may have been placed there as a joke as the slab was curing.

The excavation of a services duct to the north-west of the building’s breakfront entrance was monitored in September. The trench cut through the usual modern surface formation layers, which sealed a deposit of sterile reddish/brown clay. This extended to the full depth of the trench at 0.65m towards the north-western terminal at an existing concrete junction box. The clay did not appear to be natural subsoil, despite its being sterile (i.e. free of finds or charcoal flecks) and it is possibly derived from the upcast of a defensive ditch established along Lone Lane to defend the city during the disturbances of the 1650s. This interpretation cannot however be ascertained in the absence of diagnostic or datable artefacts.

The removal of the access ramp revealed an older concrete foundation which was considered sufficient as a foundation for the new structure.

Further ducting excavation was monitored in September, however this disturbed older services dating to the 1950s.

Archaeology and Built Heritage, 79 Queen Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7