2015:286 - Mullingar Courthouse, Mount Street, Mullingar, Westmeath

Testing was carried out within the footprint of the proposed redevelopment of Mullingar Courthouse on Mount Street in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath (Part 9 planning REF: A16/222/2). Test trenching commenced at the site on 30 November 2015 and lasted for two days. A total of three trenches were mechanically investigated across the footprint of the proposed basement for the new courthouse development. The trenches were located to the north, east and south of the existing courthouse building. The testing identified general stratified deposits of hardcore, mixed clays and soils over subsoil. Subsoil was generally identified at a minimum of 1.2m below present ground level. The location of the trenches was constrained due to the presence of services such as live foul sewers and a stone culvert.

The testing has identified at least one large linear ditch extending north–south in Trench 2. There may be a second parallel ditch to the west. A further ditch/pit-like feature was evident to the north-west of these features in Trench 3, but it is not possible at this time to identify a clear relationship with the activity in Trench 2. Analysis of mapping, and in particular the superimposed map of Richard's map of Mullingar (1691) onto modern town layout (from Historic Towns Atlas), shows apportion of the earlier town defences extending across the courthouse site. It is interpreted that the ditch(es) identified during the test trenching related to these town defences. The ditches are cut through natural subsoil and sealed by 1.2–1.4m of stratified overburden at c. 90.5m OD. The ditch-features identified within Trench 2 have been identified at 1.2m below present ground level. Current design indicates that the basement of the new structure will require a formation level for the raft foundation at c. 1.5m below present ground level. Based on the current design there will be a permanent negative impact on these features caused by ground disturbances associated with the proposed development. A stone culvert has been identified at the east end of Trench 1 at a depth of 1.1m below present ground level. The culvert is understood to be 19th century in date. Based on the current design there will be a permanent negative impact on the culvert. 

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