County: Antrim Site name: Ballyruther & St. Cunning (Drumnagreagh, Ballygalley)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: IHR 06850 and 06850:001 Licence number: AE/19/112
Author: Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry), 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.
Site type: Mill, 19th-century
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 735592m, N 909478m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.914606, -5.885125
Monitoring of primary ground reduction works (site clearance and removal of overburden) was undertaken on 26 November 2019, having been commissioned by Mr. Robert McConnell & Mrs. Janice McConnell, and relates to a Planning Condition under Planning Policy Statement 6: Built Heritage 4 (PPS 6:BH4) for archaeological mitigation associated with a proposed development comprising the construction of a replacement dwelling and associated landscaping at 55 Drumnagreagh Road, Larne, Co. Antrim (Planning Ref: LA02/2018/0222/F).
The proposed development area, which covers an area of approximately 0.7ha, is located within a sensitive archaeological landscape with the remains of a flax mill (IHR 06850 and 06850:001) noted on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1833 being located within the boundaries of the application site. In addition, the site is located immediately north of a Scheduled Monument comprising a motte (ANT035:010s) of Anglo-Norman or Early Christian date.
A programme of primary ground reduction works was undertaken within the boundaries of the proposed development site. However, the new dwelling is to be located within the footprint of the dwelling house which most recently occupied the site and in the yard space surrounding. Moreover, the current proposal provides for the sensitive development of the site with a single-storey replacement dwelling and retention of much of the general layout of the site, including the vernacular building, existing access, paths and steps, and the remains of the former millrace.
Monitoring works confirmed that previous groundworks associated with the construction of the former dwelling and its associated concrete yard appeared to have included the removal of a portion of the millrace within the footprint of the replacement dwelling.
No previously unidentified archaeological features, remains or deposits were identified within the boundaries of the proposed development area during archaeological monitoring works at the site.
Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry), 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.
