County: Waterford Site name: 6 Catherine Street, Waterford
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WA009-005027 & 8 Licence number: 17E0232
Author: Órla Scully
Site type: Medieval urban
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 660927m, N 612218m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.258293, -7.107546
The renovation plans proposed to lower the existing floor level of the basement to give more overhead space. The maximum reduction initially proposed was up to 0.75m. below the existing basement floor. (This depth was revised on foot of the findings of the testing, to a maximum depth of removal of 0.35m.) The area is in a recognised area with potential for archaeological remains. The test pit layout was designed to investigate the impact of lowering the floor on the areas throughout the footprint of the building, whilst also informing the engineering consultants of the nature of the foundations.
Five test pits were excavated, one of which was outside the existing building in the yard at the rear of the house, south of the modern extension to the house. Only in test pit 4 was there any form of archaeological survival noted; this was in the form of wooden posts. The posts were not associated with any dating material, other than that they were sealed by the 18th-century infill layer predating the building of the house (c.1820).
The level at which the organic remains surfaced was immediately below the surface of the foundation footing (the footing level designed as such by the builders to raise the walls above the peaty layer which is subject to slight tidal ground water influx). The peaty humic layer may contain further structural and other remains.
It is recommended, on the basis of the findings, that the level of disturbance below the existing floor surface not exceed at most 0.4m. This will safely keep the layer of bedding for the new floor higher than the existing footing surface, replacing the current rubble layer and provide a buffer zone of c.50mm between the underlying peaty layer and the known level of previous disturbance. This has been discussed with the architects who also consulted with the conservation engineer. The original design is now altered to respect the findings herein. The renovations with the renewed floor level will not impact on the level of potential archaeological remains.
7, Bayview, Tramore, Co. Waterford X91 X462
