2018:654 - Crane Street, Rainsford Street, Sugar House Lane, School Street, Dublin 8, Dublin

The proposed development is a pedestrian improvement scheme and was undertaken between September 2017 and February 2018. The site consists of the entire length of Crane Street and Sugar House Lane, proceeds at the end of Sugar House Lane to the east at School Street for c. 100m, c. 5m of Bellevue Street, the north-west part of Rainsford Street for c. 40m, and three smaller areas to the east on Rainsford Street.
The pedestrian improvement scheme consists of carriageway and footway repairs, narrowing carriageway widths, providing wider footpaths and improved pedestrian crossings, gullies and gully connections and SUDS tree-pits. It will include the retention of existing granite flag surrounds of cellars and the reuse of antique granite kerbstones and cobblestones. Ground reduction for the works was rarely more than 0.3m below the original ground level.
The deposits revealed were of modern origin with occasional evidence for post-medieval activity in the form of ex-situ cobbles, pottery sherds, brick and other stones. At no point was undisturbed archaeological material identified. However, of interest was a post-medieval brick-built culvert revealed extending along the western side of Crane Street. Its construction post-dated the upstanding 19th-century industrial buildings on the street. It was recorded then preserved from collapse by in-filling with concrete.

8 Beat Centre, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.