2015:341 - ST JAMES CHURCH (Boiler House), Dublin
County: Dublin
Site name: ST JAMES CHURCH (Boiler House)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DU018- 020 346
Licence number: C000689 E004603
Author: Aisling Collins ACAS
Author/Organisation Address: Annesley Mews, Brighton Ave, Monkstown, Co Dublin
Site type: Graveyard
Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)
ITM: E 713897m, N 733970m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.343683, -6.289528
The testing report comprises the results of archaeological testing for the boiler house area located at the external north east corner of the church and also includes archaeological mitigation in order to minimise impacts on the archaeological heritage of the proposed new plant room at the same location. More detailed information including finds and osteo-archaeology will form part of an overall final site report.
As part of the ongoing church renovation works, it is proposed to built a new two floor boiler/plant room to replace the 19th century red brick structure. The proposed new building will be measure approximately 5.20 m x 6m with a finished floor level located at 1.80m below present ground level. It will have a proposed concrete foundation to structural engineering specifications. There will be a 250mm proposed reinforced concrete retaining wall to structural engineer’s details with a ladder to gain access from each floor.
The boiler house area is located at the north east corner of the present church. The boiler house was a red brick building built in the late 19th century soon after the church was completed. It was a below ground structure with walls of red brick, concrete roof and a cement floor.
After the boiler house walls and foundations were removed an earlier graveyard level associated with the church (built in 1707AD) was revealed. This graveyard lies at approximately 2.00m below present ground level with the remains of two damaged gravestones present. There are no inscriptions on the gravestones and one of them only has part of it remaining.
The burial soil of the graveyard is at least 1.20m deep and contains the remains of at least six burials. It is possible an area of this size could contain more burials.
No burials were disturbed during this phase of test excavation.
The excavation also exposed the foundation plinths of the existing church. These plinths are built of large limestone blocks constructed within foundation trenches which are over 1.20m deep.
It is recommended that the remaining area of the boiler house be archaeologically excavated to the required depth of 1.2m to facilitate the construction of the new plant room at the same location.
