2018:391 - Abbeyfarm, Kilmallock, Limerick

The development consisted of the construction of a school extension, and associated works. Testing in 2015 revealed a short stretch of wall. Removal of topsoil in this area exposed the stretch of wall found in the testing and an associated area of cobbles and a second stretch of walling. These have been interpreted as the remains of a shed or out-house and contemporary cobbled yard. The interior of the structure had a similar floor surface to the exterior cobbles. This structure was marked on the first edition six-inch OS and 25-inch OS map, dating to the nineteenth century and 1900 respectively, so it is suggested that the structure pre-dates or dates to the mid-nineteenth century. These features were uncovered and recorded. The features were located in an area that was to be landscaped around the school and so they were able to be preserved in situ under the new lawn.
Six finds were recovered from the topsoil above the structure and cobbling, 3 clay pipe stem fragments all of white clay without any distinguishing or makers’ marks or decoration, and 3 fragments of tin-glazed earthenware, 2 decorated with a blue pattern and one plain. Due to the unstratified nature of the artefacts they cannot be directly associated with the underlying features, but it is reasonable to suggest that they are likely items discarded by the users of the structure, as no similar items were recovered from the rest of the development area, when it was monitored. A metal detection survey under licence 17R0127 did not recover anything of archaeological interest.

32 Nicholas Street, King's Island, Limerick, V94 V6F7