2017:071 - Dublin Street and Meadow Road, Kildare, Kildare

Testing was undertaken at a proposed residential development site bounded by Dublin Street and Meadow Road, Kildare. The site incorporates part of the former Presentation Convent Secondary School. The development lands are located within the Zone of Archaeological Potential established for Kildare Town (KD022-029). The western boundary to the site includes the postulated line of the medieval Town Wall Defences (Bradley et al., 1987, 215-6; Thomas, 1992, 123-5), although it is also speculated (Andrews, 1986, 3-4) that such defences may have been located further to the west and outside the site boundaries. It is further speculated that the site may have included an extra-mural medieval suburb.

A total of eleven test trenches were excavated in the available areas of the proposed development site. In general, the locations of the trenches was dictated by the existing topographical nature of the site, particularly the locations of the hard-surface basketball courts, access avenue, buildings and associated external yards; for that reason, the trenches are largely located in the existing grassed area. No subsurface features of archaeological interest were uncovered.

A collection of forty-seven pottery sherds, of both medieval and post-medieval date, were recovered from the topsoil spoil generated by the trench excavations. These were processed and submitted to Clare McCutcheon, Archaeological Ceramic Specialist. Following identification and some reassembly, the number of sherds was reduced to 38 of which 24 (63.15%) are medieval in date. A further two sherds are possible ridge tile fragments. The majority of the sherds are very worn with rounded edges, including the medieval wares and the North Devon wares. This suggests that most of the post-depositional disturbance was prior to the 18th or possibly earlier 19th century. In addition, a total of five clay tobacco pipe bowls and two step fragments, of 19th/20th-century date were recovered. A one penny coin, dating to 1805 (George III) was also recovered.

An inspection of the western boundary wall did not reveal any possible medieval structural fabric and it was noted from the excavations that there is no evidence for stepped or battered wall foundations, which are usual with such defences. In addition, the foundations were very shallow at the southern extent and appear to follow the original sloping topography of the site, indicating that the wall is of post-medieval, probably of late 18th- or early 19th-century date.

References:

Andrews, J.H.. 1986. Irish Historic Towns Atlas, No. 1 – Kildare. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.

Bradley, J. Halpin, A. & King, H. 1987. Urban Archaeological Survey, Part VII (iv) – County Kildare. Unpublished Report, O.P.W.

Thomas, A. 1992. The Walled Towns of Ireland. Vol. 2. pp. 228-9. Irish Academic Press, Dublin

7 Cnoc na Greine Square, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare