2015:288 - Mill Street, Dublin 8, Dublin

Testing was undertaken at the site of a proposed nursing home development, which is located at Mill Street, Dublin 8. Monitoring was specified in a condition attached to the grant of permission by An Bord Pleánala (Ref.: PL 29S. 236752). However, due to the archaeological potential of the site, it was decided to test it prior to construction going ahead. A total of four test trenches and a single test pit were excavated across the site on 19 and 20 October 2015. The proposed development area is located in an area of former industry associated with the medieval and post-medieval city of Dublin. It is located within the zone of archaeological potential for the city (DU018-020). Several sub-constraints are recorded within the vicinity of the site, including a post-medieval house located to the immediate east (DU018-020202).

Testing identified large portions of the site disturbed by early modern and modern building foundations and large pits. There were, however, some isolated and localised areas of surviving archaeology in the form of pits associated with post-medieval industrial activity, possibly tanning. In the east of the site there was less modern disturbance than was evident elsewhere and here a more complex area of pits was identified. The pits are interpreted as being post-medieval in date and associated with the previous industrial heritage of the site, possibly related to tanning or other related activity.

The areas of the site on the Mill Street and Sweeney’s Terrace street frontages were unavailable for testing due the presence of a concrete slab which was supporting the site hoarding. Testing has identified that localised archaeological deposits survive in the central area of the development.

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