County: Down Site name: 36 High Street, Portaferry
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: AE/15/10
Author: Eoin Halpin
Site type: Urban
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 759516m, N 851004m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.382646, -5.544201
The proposed development, at 36 High Street, Portaferry, is located within an archaeologically sensitive area with nine recorded archaeological sites within the vicinity. None of these sites are located within the boundaries of the proposed development.
The Historic settlement of Portaferry (DOW 032:031) dates from the late medieval period with continued occupation to the present. Archaeological investigations associated with a development adjacent to Portaferry Castle (DOW 032:003) revealed evidence of prehistoric activity within the vicinity. High Street is located on high ground overlooking the sea to the south-west and the area of the proposed development appeared part of the settlement of Portaferry from at least the middle of the 18th century. It is possible that the area was utilised earlier than this. Cartographic evidence revealed that the majority of this part of the town has remained open ground for the last 250 years.
The assessment took place on 28 January 2015. Three machine-cut trenches, measuring between 40m and 60m in length, were excavated in accordance with the programme of works agreed with the NIEA. The trenches were opened to investigate the western, middle and eastern parts of the proposed development. Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered; extensive disturbance associated with the construction of the adjacent Health Clinic to the east of the site effectively removed any evidence from this area.
AHC Ltd, 36 Ballywillwill Road, Castlewellan, Co. Down
