County: Down Site name: Newry Community Treatment and Care Centre - Phase 1, Ballymacraig, Newry
Sites and Monuments Record No.: DOW 046:042 Licence number: AE/17/208
Author: Stephen Gilmore
Site type: 16th-century ditch, 19th-century building
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 708734m, N 826131m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.172612, -6.334588
Archaeologically supervised mechanical test trenching took place in November 2017 on part of the site; this section of work will be called Phase 1. Four of the eight test trenches (Trenches 5, 6, 7 & 8) were fully opened and recorded, Trenches 1 and 2 were also opened, but the last 10m of each could not be competed at this time due to the presence of upstanding structures. Trenches 3 & 4 could not be opened because upstanding buildings were still present.
Several archaeological features were identified in Trenches 1, 2 and 5 in form of pits, ditches and a possible structure. The features were found at quite a depth, between 0.4-1.8m in Trench 1, 0.25-1m in Trench 2 and at 2.5m in Trench. Due to the depth of the trenches and instability of the trench sides the archaeological features were recorded and the trenches backfilled. The final depth for the development needs to be determined before a decision can be made as to whether the trenches containing archaeological material need to be opened, widened and/or fully excavated.
Whilst the test trenching was ongoing there was also clearance of vegetation to enable soil removal and treatment for Japanese Knotweed by the contractor on the steep slope between the eastern terrace wall and the road leading uphill to the Abbey grammar school. During this process a mortared stone and brick structure was uncovered; after discussion with HED a small team of archaeologists were brought in to clear around the structure and expose it; it may have been an ice house.
There are still two full test trenches to be excavated on the site (Trenches 3 and 4) and the last 10m of 2 others (Trenches 1 and 2). Once the buildings in that area are demolished these trenches can be excavated and will be termed 'Phase 2' for our purposes.
It is possible that the ditches found in the test trenching are part of Newry's 16th-century defences (DOW 046:042)
Northern Archaeological Consultancy, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast
