2015:590 - Castlesessagh (Derg Valley Care), Tyrone

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Tyrone Site name: Castlesessagh (Derg Valley Care)

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/15/22E

Author: Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry)

Site type: No archaeological significance

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 626072m, N 884505m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.707958, -7.595446

Pre-development archaeological evaluation works were undertaken on 2 June 2015 at a proposed development site at lands 90m north-west of 5-7 Parkview Road, Castlederg, Co. Tyrone, having been commissioned by Derg Valley Care Ltd.  The works undertaken relate to a request for additional information by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency: Historic Monuments Unit (NIEA:HMU) prior to making a Planning Decision under Planning Policy Statement 6: Built Heritage 4 (PPS 6:BH4) in response to a Planning Application for the development of the site to provide a respite care facility with nine 2-bed dwellings and five 1-bed dwellings (2 of which will be for wardens), Hobby/Craft workshop building and associated allotments (man shed concept), associated access and parking arrangements (Planning Ref: J/2013/0011/O).

Prior to the commencement of on-site works, it was proposed that a total of c.330m of linear trenching would be excavated within the area of proposed invasive groundworks.  However, initial on-site evaluation works revealed layers of modern infill/overburden overlying glacial subsoil to a depth of c.2.4m within the north-east portion of the site.  Therefore, the evaluation strategy was amended to comprise the excavation of ten trial pits across the site.  The excavation of these trial pits revealed that these layers of modern infill/overburden extended throughout the area under investigation to a depth of between 2.2m within the north and south-east portions of the PDA and in excess of 4m within the western portion of the site.

These layers of infill comprised various re-deposited clays primarily containing modern bricks and concrete blocks with smaller quantities of roofing slates, ceramic tiles, concrete kerbstones, steel reinforcing bars, plastic sheeting and general demolition material.

On-site discussions with the previous landowner revealed that the PDA had previously been a low-lying, frequently waterlogged, agricultural field and that the modern infill material had been imported to raise the land to a level similar to the surrounding fields. Most of the material comprised demolition material from buildings damaged or destroyed between c.1970 and 1990 as a result of bomb attacks in the vicinity during the “Troubles”.

No archaeological features, remains or deposits were noted within any of trial pits during evaluation works at the site.

150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.