2018:779 - Patrickswell Lane and Dominic Street , Drogheda, Louth

Monitoring took place of the groundworks associated with the upgrade of the existing storm overflow works at Patrickswell Lane and Dominic Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth. The work was carried out between 31 May and 31 August 2018 for Nu Line/Coras JV on behalf of Irish Water. The route of the proposed upgrade of the existing storm overflow works is located within the medieval walled town of Drogheda, LH024-041 (Historic Town), and across the site of recorded monument LH024-041079 – (Quay Wall), which was recorded at the south end of Dominic Street (Excavation Licence 96E0160) by Donald Murphy of Archaeological Consultancy Services Limited in 2002.

As part of the archaeological monitoring, 10 slit trenches were excavated to an average depth of 0.6m to 0.8m below current ground level, along the line of the proposed storm overflow upgrade, to determine the presence and depth of all existing services and subsurface archaeological features and deposits. After this, the excavation of the upgrade of existing storm overflows works was monitored. The excavation of the 10 slit trenches failed to identify any subsurface features or deposits of an archaeological nature. The slit trenches recorded that ground along the route of the proposed upgrade was heavily disturbed by previous groundworks associated with the installation of services and the Drogheda Main Drainage Scheme. Along the route of the upgrade of existing storm overflow works at Patrickswell Lane and Dominic Street the slit trenches only identified disturbed ground and 19th - 20th-century deposits.

Following the excavation of the 10 slit trenches, the excavation of the trenches associated with the installation of the new storm overflow pipes was monitored to a depth of between 2m and 3m below current ground level. The excavation of the trenches also identified heavily disturbed ground associated with previous groundworks. However, at the south end of Dominic Street a section of the medieval town wall (C004) was recorded; this appeared to have been truncated by previous groundworks. It was truncated by a modern concrete drainage pipe running north-south along Dominic Street and was originally recorded by Donald Murphy during the works associated with the installation of services and the Drogheda Main Drainage Scheme under Licence No. 96E160. The wall was recorded at a depth of 0.6m below current ground level and was described as being approximately 2m wide, constructed of large blocks of stone with a mortar and rubble core. This section of wall appeared to be aligned east–west before being truncated. The route of the upgrade of the existing storm overflow pipes was moved in order to preserve this section of wall in situ.

To the south of the wall (C004) a second section of wall (C006), was recorded within the east face of the trench. This wall (C006) was recorded at a depth of 0.8m below current ground level. It survived within the edge of the trench as 8 courses of roughly coursed stonework (depth 1.1m), aligned north-south at a right angle to wall (C004). Its alignment, position and appearance suggested that it was contemporary with wall (C004), and may have been an associated structure located at the southern side of the medieval town wall such as a tower jutting out into the river.

Both walls were preserved in situ, and the new storm overflow pipes were moved in order to facilitate their preservation. No further evidence of previously unrecorded subsurface features or deposits of an archaeological nature were recorded.

Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth