County: Meath Site name: Knowth House, Robinson's Yard, Knowth
Sites and Monuments Record No.: ME019-30---- Licence number: E004412
Author: Jon Stirland, Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit
Site type: Monitoring
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 699690m, N 773509m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.701751, -6.490219
Archaeological monitoring of topsoil stripping and all ground works was carried out at Knowth House Farm Yard Complex, Knowth, Co. Meath. The work was carried out under Ministerial Direction C248, registration number E4412. A metal detector was also used to scan the spoil for any finds under licence R294. The area north of the stable building, a former carpark, was stripped and excavated to an average depth of c. 0.15m to 0.36m exposing natural boulder clay. A number of service trenches were excavated about the stable building, these measured on average c.0.3m in width and 0.15—0.36m in depth.
The only feature of archaeological significance exposed during the course of the monitoring was a ditch, located within the stable building. This ditch represents one of the pair of parallel ditches originally identified in 2014. Its presence within the stable building was noted for the first time in 2017 during test trenching, when it was exposed at a depth of c. 0.28m, at which time, following a consultation with the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht, it was agreed to preserve it in situ. As a result, the groundworks within the stable building did not exceed the depth of 0.28m and the ditch remains undisturbed. This ditch was thought to be of prehistoric date during excavations in 2014 due to its nature, however this was not confirmed as no datable material was retrieved.
A 19th-century cobbled surface and French drain were also recorded located within the stable building. The stable building is depicted for the first time on the 3rd Edition 25-inch map of 1909, however it should be noted that it appears that this cobbled surface lies well below the level of the plinth of the building. This might suggest that the cobbled surface was originally part of the 1835 yard of Knowth House, and the 20th-century stable was built on top of it. The cobbled surface was overlaying a French drain, however it appears that both features might have been contemporary.
No further features of archaeological significance were identified and no finds were recovered. The work is now complete and no further archaeological mitigation is recommended.
Jon Stirland, Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth
