County: Dublin Site name: National Rehabilitation Hospital, Rochestown Avenue, Dun Laoghaire
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 15E0326
Author: Antoine Giacometti
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 723333m, N 726532m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.274760, -6.150790
A programme of archaeological monitoring took place in the north-western portions (Areas A and B) of the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), following on from an earlier testing programme (2015:200). Part of this area adjoining Pottery Road had previously been stripped in monitored roadworks by IAC. This area of the NRH site had been identified as containing industrial heritage features associated with 19th-century brick kilns and clay quarries, which are marked on 19th- and early 20th-century Ordnance Survey maps. These reflect a long-standing pottery/tile industry in the area, possibly from as early as medieval times.
Excavations in 2009 identified associated industrial waste below topsoil to a depth of c. 1.2m on Pottery Road outside the National Rehabilitation Centre. The 2016 monitoring programme was relatively shallow (c. 0.4m below ground level) but in two parts went down c. 1.5m depth. No archaeological or industrial features were identified. All layers on the site contained plastic and demolition rubble (including asbestos) with no evidence for brick or tile manufacture. It is likely this material represents backfill of the 19th/20th-century clay quarries.
Archaeology Plan, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2
