2016:420 - Monastery, Wicklow

It is proposed to construct a small residential development at Monastery Road, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. The lands contain a number of Archaeological Monuments - WI003-032001 (Ecclesiastical Enclosure) and WI003-032002 (Church). A pre-planning enquiry was submitted to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to determine what archaeological procedures should be undertaken with respect to the lands. It was recommended that an Archaeological Assessment should be undertaken and include the results of a Geophysical Survey and programme of Archaeological Testing.

WI003-032 is located in the southern area of the site and comprises a possible monastic enclosure (WI003-032001) and a church (WI003-032002). Both are located on a low-level rise and are very overgrown. All that remains of the church is a possible wall foundation (Wth: 1m; H: 0.2m) running north-south towards the east end of an irregular area of stones (27m east-west by 15.5m) defined at the north by a possible stone bank. The surface of the church area is covered with a dense growth of ivy, through which some possible wall foundations are visible at the eastern end. The enclosure, indicated in the 1838 OS 6-inch map, has now no visible surface traces, although it is noticeable as a cropmark on aerial photographs.

A Geophysical Survey (Gradiometer) was undertaken within the proposed development lands by J.M Leigh Survey (Licence No: 16-R-0086). Evidence for the extent of the monastic enclosure, together with other features of archaeological interest/potential within the confines of the enclosure, and to the south/south-east of the external limits of such, were detected. A possible small circular enclosure, of archaeological potential, was detected in the northern area of the site to the east of an electricity pylon/mast while a number of additional anomalies, of possible archaeological interest, were detected across the remaining areas of the site.

The detected anomalies, except for those within, and to the south/south-east of, the detected enclosure, were subjected to a programme of testing. This uncovered the remains of a ditch at a location along the detected enclosure anomaly, thereby proving its archaeological origins. The remaining anomalies across the site were determined to be either of geological origin, or associated with magnetic variations associated with the electricity pylon/mast and its associated overhead lines. Three sherds of late-12th/early-13th-century pottery were recovered.

Following consultative discussions with the National Monuments Service, it was agreed that a 10m-wide buffer area should be established around the perimeter of the outer edge of the monastic enclosure and that no developmental ground works should be undertaken within this area (incorporating the monastic enclosure and its internal area).

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