2014:194 - St Otteran's Hospital, Uper Grange Road, John's Hill, Waterford, Waterford

Planning permission was sought for the construction a new Primary Care Centre. Waterford County Council requested further information including an archaeological assessment, geophysical survey and archaeological testing.
The site is located in mostly a greenfield area on the outskirts of Waterford City, part of the grounds of St. Otteran’s Hospital. There is no Recorded Monument on or in the vicinity of the site which had been laid out as fields, some clearly modified by building foundations, one was previously used as a pitch and putt course and another is currently used as one.
The results of the geophysical survey indicated difficulty in providing an accurate interpretation of several areas due to modern interference and therefore it was decided to excavate 15 test trenches to provide the most comprehensive coverage.
The fields surrounding St Otteran’s Hospital were indicative of the intensive cultivation of the ground as vegetable gardens to meet the need of the hospital community in the past (over c. 150 years). This was indicated by the dark brown to black topsoil containing vast amounts of white chinaware probably associated with the hospital. The ware was probably incorporated in the soil with compost and dung used to enrich the ground. The topsoil is generally deeper at the bottom of slopes and thinner on the uphill sides.
The ground was heavily disturbed in the central part of the site due to drainage, dumping and the preparation of the ground for buildings that formerly stood in the area and the laying out of a pitch and putt course on the eastern part of the site.
Only one feature of potential archaeological significance was identified in the excavated trenches. This was a 0.6m-wide linear feature, possibly a medieval field boundary. No other deposits or features of archaeological significance were uncovered.

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