2017:433 - LISBURN: Hilden Mill, Millstreet, Antrim

An archaeological evaluation was carried out prior to the proposed construction of a residential development at the Hilden Mill site, Lisburn. The evaluation consisted of the excavation of a single trench within the development area on 16 June 2017 using a back-acting machine fitted with a toothless bucket. The trench extended approximately south-south-west to north-north-east across the development area, with a length of 40m and a width of 2m. A single fill was removed, consisting of a dark grey clay mixed with gravel, with frequent inclusions of small stones, brick and concrete. Modern plastic piping was also present in various intervals throughout the trench. It had a typical depth of 0.4m, though towards the eastern portion of the trench reached a depth of 0.55m. This overlay naturally occurring subsoil which consisted of bands of compact light yellowish-brown clay plastic clay. No evidence of any archaeological deposits was identified.