2018:816 - 7-13 Stephen Street, 17-19 Longford Street and 71-5 Aungier Street, Dublin, Dublin

Large scale archaeological excavations were carried out from March to November 2018 at 7-13 Stephen Street, 17-19 Longford Street and 71-5 Aungier Street, Dublin. The works were carried out in response to conditions of planning (PL 29S.246855; Pl. Reg. Ref. No. 3971/15), related to a mixed-use (student accommodation and retail unit) development of the site.

Prior to site works, the site footprint was suspected to contain the locations of three recorded monuments: the medieval parish church of St. Peter (DU018-0200089), attested to in the historical record from the early 12th century and depicted on cartographic sources until the 17th century; an associated graveyard (DU018-378), significant portions of which had been excavated on a site immediately to the south (Coughlan 2003); and the 18th-century Aungier Street Theatre Royal shown to occupy the southern portion of the site on 18th-century mapping (DU018-020162).

Archaeological excavations resulted in the discovery of elements of all three of these recorded monuments as well as additional, wide-ranging archaeological features which survived across site despite extensive disturbance in later centuries. The results of the excavations represent a significant body of knowledge which will ultimately allow a greater understanding of early Dublin and also of the development of the suburbs surrounding the walled town. The principal features identified are as follows:

A large curving early medieval ditch of probable 11th-century date. This ditch represents the north-west corner of an enclosure relating either to an early church dedicated to St. Peter (no direct trace of which was found to survive on site), or to a defended suburb to the south of the walled town. The ditch corresponds to the feature excavated immediately to the south by Tim Coughlan (2003). This ditch cannot be considered to relate to the purported 7th/8th-century monastic enclosure of Duiblinn, mentioned in the historical sources - as previously posited (Clarke 2002).

A Sunken Floored Structure of roughly rectangular shape with rounded edges was identified towards the centre of the site. This structure measured 5.4m long, by 3.4m wide and survived to a depth of 0.58m. The survival of this structure was due to the depth of its sunken floor which may originally have been up to 1.5m deep. It is probable that significant ground reduction across the central part of the site in the 1950s during construction of the ‘Coffin’ dance hall removed contemporary structures which would have existed at ground level. This structure may have continued in use into the 13th century, though it is likely to be of 11th- or early 12th-century construction.

While structural remains of the 11th/12th-century church of St. Peter was not identified, a large lime kiln, dating to the later 11th century, was encountered. This kiln almost certainly relates to the construction of the early church of St. Peter.

Excavations confirmed the presence of a later rebuild/extension of St. Peter’s Church constructed over the lime kiln. The building was aligned generally east-west and the remains comprised of a substantial southern wall, two internal cross walls and a fragmentary northern wall. The structure measured 6.2m in internal width and survived to a length of 13m (though, as the structure was truncated to east and west, the original length is likely to have been considerably greater). The structure was built over the earlier ditch, the lime kiln and overlay several cess pits that also cut the earlier ditch and contained ceramics of 13th-century date. It is therefore likely that this structure dates to the 14th century, perhaps even c. AD 1370 when the church is described as in ruins and in need of repair.

An associated graveyard surrounded these masonry remains comprising 224 burials. Many of the skeletons were in a fragmentary condition due to truncation by later post-medieval structures or later burials, however the preservation levels were generally good. A large quantity of disarticulated human bone was retrieved (254 instances) during excavation, reflective of the significant level of disturbance to the burial area. This is a continuation of the graveyard containing 150 burials, excavated by Tim Coughlan immediately to the south (2003). All burials appeared to respect the church walls, while the grave goods retrieved suggest that the graveyard was active between the 14th and 17th centuries.

Extensive evidence for post-medieval activity, including cellars, outbuildings, boundary walls, wells and tanning pits was excavated. In addition, physical remains relating to the Aungier Street Theatre were also identified. The most significant features included a ‘Pit Trap’ and associated timber footings for a stage or tiered seating as well as a curving section of red brick wall potentially representing the rear wall of the auditorium.

From the outset of works, a focus on preservation of archaeological remains in situ where possible, was adopted in line with planning conditions (PL 29S.246855; Pl. Reg. Ref. No. 3971/15). Condition 3 required that accommodation be made to preserve in situ ‘any elements of the Aungier Street Theatre or St. Peter’s Church that may be discovered during the course of works.’ During the course of the excavations the client and design team agreed to extend this approach to include the significant sunken floored structure uncovered during the works. A provision was also made during the design phase that portions of the early medieval ditch could be preserved in situ. All other archaeological elements encountered were preserved by record – i.e. archaeological excavation.

As a result of the collaborative approach between the client, the design team, the City Archaeologist and the statutory authorities to implement Condition 3 of planning, several areas of the early medieval ditch have been preserved in situ beneath the current development. In addition, a significant public display is in preparation which includes floor windows over portions of the walls of St. Peter’s Church, the Aungier Street Theatre and the Sunken Floored Structure which have also been preserved in situ.

Given the extent and complexity of this site, post-excavation works are ongoing. This entry will be updated with supplementary information as it becomes available.

REFERENCES

Coughlan, T. 2003 Excavations at a medieval cemetery of St. Peter’s Church, Dublin. In S. Duffy (ed.) Medieval Dublin IV, 11–39. Four Courts Press. Dublin.

Clarke, H. 2002 Dublin Part 1, to 1610. Irish Historic Town Atlas, No. 11. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin.

Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow