2014:190 - Srah, Puttaghan, Tullamore and Spollanstown, Offaly

Ground works for the Offaly Water Conservation Stage 3 Watermain Rehabilitation Project Phase 1, Tullamore in the townlands of Srah, Puttaghan, Tullamore and Spollanstown were monitored.

All of the significant pipelayng works on the project were located within the existing roadways. As such many of the areas had already been heavily truncated by modern services. However, a number of features have been recorded beneath the modern streets. Most of these findings were in the form of stone culverts which form part of a drainage network carrying storm water to the Tullamore River.

These culverts most likely date to the re-development of the town and its infrastructure between 1785 and 1830. Some of the culverts have been re-used as ducting/channels to house more recent service pipes, with some of the culverts (O’Carroll Street, Market Square, Gas House Lane and Harbour Street) still ‘live’ and functioning with flowing water. Other features consisted of localised cobbles, associated with former road surfaces although the level of truncation from early modern and modern services has resulted in these being localised deposits. Localised deposits possibly relating to occupation dump layers or foundation/dump deposits were noted but none would appear to be of particular archaeological significance and would be contemporary with the post-medieval development of the town.

IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow