County: Armagh Site name: Victoria Lock Greenway, Newry
Sites and Monuments Record No.: ARM 009:500, DOW 046:500 and IHR 172 Licence number: AE/17/176
Author: Francis Woods, Gahan & Long Ltd
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 709536m, N 823406m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.147967, -6.323287
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council undertook the construction of a Greenway from Dublin Road Bridge to Victoria Lock through the Albert Basin and Middlebank, Newry. As the proposal extended through a scheduled monument area, ARM 29:500, scheduled monument consent was sought and granted for the development.
Monitoring took place of the groundworks along the proposed pathways. These pathway and cycle path extended south for approximately 3.25km along a thin strip of land separating the canal from the Newry River. The vegetation and upper layers of topsoil were removed using a back-acting machine fitted with a toothless bucket. The topsoil was removed to a depth of 0.1-0.3m which for the most part consisted of the removal of the sod layer of grass along the route of the path. This gave way to a mixture of compact sandy clay and sand. In some areas naturally occurring subsoil was identified and this consisted of a light brown/orange stony clay.
No archaeological deposits or features associated with the construction/use of the canal were identified during the course of the monitoring.
7-9 Castlereagh Street, Belfast BT5 54NE
