2017:391 - Mayfair building, Kilkenny, Kilkenny

Monitoring was undertaken in 2017 at the Mayfair building, located in the former Smithwick’s Brewery site in Kilkenny City. The Mayfair building is part of the Abbey Creative Quarter Masterplan area (Abbey Creative Quarter, Urban Block 10), a planned redevelopment by Kilkenny County Council of 8.25ha in the centre of Kilkenny. The Mayfair building is located within the Kilkenny City Zone of Archaeological Potential (KK019-026) and adjoins the precinct of St Francis’ Abbey (National Monument Ref. 72). It also incorporates portions of the Kilkenny medieval town walls. The circuit of the town walls is a National Monument according to the National Policy on Town Defences (DoEHLG 2008). The Mayfair Building is also located next to Irishtown Bridge and site of the medieval Watergate.

The site owners, Kilkenny County Council, propose to renovate and extend the existing Mayfair building for use as offices. The redevelopment includes the removal of trees between the Mayfair building and the town wall, demolition of existing ad-hoc extensions to the Mayfair building, including concrete steps and a boiler house built against the town wall. Part of this project brief includes a survey of the town wall and preparation of specifications for its conservation.

Ministerial Consent was obtained for the removal of trees between the Mayfair building and the town wall, removal of trees next to Evans’ Turret on the banks of the River Nore, removal of vegetation from the town wall behind the Mayfair building, the removal of a steel bicycle shed beside the town wall, and the demolition of portions of the Mayfair building, under archaeological supervision. The removal of trees and vegetation at the Mayfair building and Evans’ Turret was carried out in February/March 2017, and demolition works at the Mayfair building and bicycle shed was carried out in June/July 2017. Vibration monitors were installed on the town wall National Monument, to monitor the levels of vibrations on the town wall arising from demolition works, and manage these vibrations within the levels recommended by the project’s conservation engineer. Nothing of archaeological significance was encountered and vibration levels were successfully managed during demolition works

Further work will be undertaken in 2018. The remaining archaeological monitoring on site will consist of the final removal of vegetation preparatory to a laser scan survey of the city wall National Monument. This laser scan survey will facilitate the preparation of an archaeological report and conservation plan of this section of the town wall in 2018. The concrete steps and boiler house adjoining the town wall will be removed following the final conservation recommendations. Test excavations will also be carried out in 2018 to inform an archaeological impact assessment and design for the Mayfair development’s substructure and services.

Reference:

DoEHLG. (2008). National Policy on Town Defences. Dublin : Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. [Online]. Available at: https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/publications/national-policy-on-town-defences.pdf [Accessed 7 January 2017].

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