County: Antrim Site name: Portrush (2 - 6 Bath Road)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: AE/18/127
Author: Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry), 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 685705m, N 940946m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 55.208296, -6.653468
Monitoring of initial primary ground reduction works was undertaken on 9 July 2018, having been commissioned by Nigel Jones Architects Limited on behalf of PRH Construction (NI) Limited, and relates to a Planning Condition requested by the Department for Communities; Historic Environment Division: Historic Monuments Unit (DfC:HED:HMU) under Planning Policy Statement 6: Built Heritage 4 (PPS 6:BH4) for archaeological mitigation associated with the proposed re-development of Nos 2, 4 and 6 Bath Road, Portrush, Co. Antrim, to provide for a proposed Residential Development comprising of 24 Apartments and Associated Basement Parking (Planning Ref: C/2013/0497/F).
All invasive groundworks associated with the scheme were undertaken under archaeological supervision.
Following the demolition of the buildings on site, primary ground reduction works comprising the removal of floor surfaces, basements and the excavation of foundation trenches, revealed glacial subsoil which was encountered directly below modern overburden/construction layers associated with the buildings which previously occupied the site. Within the majority of the site, removal of the existing basements revealed bedrock, strongly suggesting that the construction of the basements had necessitated the excavation of substantial quantities of rock.
Monitoring within the north-west portion of the site revealed that this area appeared to have been filled with large rocks and sand within the relatively recent period with fragments of modern construction materials evident within the infill material. A large, circular, red-brick built inspection chamber or sump was noted within this material within the western portion of the site, directly below the concrete surface which formed a sub-base for the Bitmac surface. The chamber/sump was approximately 1.8m deep and 2m in diameter with vertical sides and a domed, red brick cover bound with concrete.
No archaeological features, remains, deposits or artifacts were identified within the boundaries of the proposed development area during archaeological works at the site.
Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry), 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.
