2017:756 - Old Town Deer Park (Bellaghy); Main Street, Bellaghy, Derry

The current development proposal provides for the re-development of 24 & 26 Main Street, Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry, to include the proposed demolition of an existing factory premises and proposed new ground floor commercial unit with 2 first-floor town centre apartments (Planning Ref: LA09/2016/1079/F).

The proposed development site lies within an area of significant archaeological potential, with numerous archaeological sites and monuments, industrial heritage sites and Listed Buildings being recorded within its vicinity general, and is located within the Area of Archaeological Potential associated with Bellaghy, as designated in the Magherafelt Area Plan 2015.

Monitoring of initial primary ground reduction works was undertaken from 15–26 January 2018, having been commissioned by Diamond Architecture on behalf of Mr. Maurice Diamond.

Following the demolition of the existing building, primary ground reduction works comprising the removal of floor surfaces and excavation of foundation trenches for concrete foundations, revealed glacial subsoil which was encountered directly below modern overburden/construction layers associated with the building which previously occupied the site.

These construction layers varied in depth between c.75–450mm and contained frequent but small amounts of late 20th-century construction materials.

Additional ground reduction works included the excavation of small trenches for the insertion of steel supports to prop the adjacent properties during construction works.

Within the former yard space to rear of the building which formerly occupied the site and directly below the yard surface, monitoring revealed a substantial subsoil-cut pit likely to represent an unfinished well, c.1m in diameter and 7m deep. The pit was roughly circular on plan with near vertical sides and a flat base.  No lining or any other fill material was noted within the pit; however, the pit was filled with water to approximately 2m below the ground surface, making closer examination unsafe. Although unlined, the pit had previously been capped with an unsupported concrete “biscuit” or pre-cast concrete reducing slab set directly on subsoil.

The pit was recorded and is to be preserved in situ under a new concrete inspection chamber/slab.

No other archaeological features, remains, deposits or artifacts were identified within the boundaries of the proposed development area during archaeological works at the site.

150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.