2017:279 - 28a-29 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Dublin

At the request of Trinity Leisure Holdings Ltd, an excavation following testing (under licence 16E0271) was carried out at the proposed development at 28a - 29 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. The architectural advisors were Henry J Lyons, structural engineers were Barrott O’Mahony and mechanical and electrical engineers were Homan O’Brien. This excavation was undertaken in fulfilment of Planning Condition No. 9 issued by The Planning Dept Dublin City Council (Ref. Grant Order No. P2321).

The development site is located within the area of archaeological potential for Dublin (DU018- 020), within an area which lies immediately outside the medieval city and was reclaimed from the River Stein in the late 17th century. The Grace Bible Fellowship building dates to the early 19th century (built in 1830) and the Trinity City Complex was built 15 years ago. Deep reclamation deposits have been reported in adjacent archaeological investigations. The site is bounded to the south by Pearse Street, to the north by Cards Lane, to the west by 28 Pearse Street and to the east by Spring Garden Lane; it covers approximately 0.06 hectares.

The excavations revealed subsoil deposits lying at depths of between 1.5-1.8m below present street levels. The was little riverine material present unlike other previous excavations in the general vicinity. The remains of 2 boundary ditches were also revealed cut into the subsoil. These ditches appear to be the first property divisions of the area dating to the late 17th/early 18th century. In the 18th century a small building or house was constructed in the area. It was a lone structure which respected the earlier boundary ditches. The remains were square shaped in plan with only the basement level surviving. It had a porchway/door in the south-west corner, a cobbled floor, a wooden barrel and a triangular fireplace in the north-east corner. After the house was demolished the area was backfilled and levelled up close to present-day street levels. In the early 19th century (OS map 1847) the area was redeveloped and the Methodist church (Grace Bible School) and buildings along the Pearse Street and Spring Garden frontage were built. In 2016, the Grace Bible Foundation building or old Methodist church was demolished along with later red brick additions to its front or southern side.

At the south end of the site towards Pearse Street the carpark area and low-level modern boundary walls were also removed. The finds dated to 17th-19th century with all of the pipes dating to the 17th century, c. 1660 in date.  Most of the pottery dated to the 18th century and was domestic in type.

Annesley Mews, Brighton Ave, Monkstown, Co Dublin