County: Dublin Site name: 161 Thomas Street, Dublin 8
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 18E0703
Author: Thaddeus Breen & Marion Sutton; Shanarc Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Urban
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 714253m, N 733960m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.343516, -6.284188
Archaeological test excavation was undertaken on 12 June 2019, at No. 161 Thomas Street, Dublin 8, in accordance with planning application no. 3627/17 regarding the removal of existing site hoarding fronting Thomas Street West, between Nos 164 and 157 Thomas Street, and its replacement with power-coated mild steel railings.
It was initially proposed to excavate multiple test trenches, approximately 5m long over a 23m long development area. The easternmost 8.7m was not available for testing as it was occupied by a temporary café, formed by a pair of reused shipping containers, to be removed during a later phase of development. As a result a single continuous 14m long trench was excavated on the alignment of the proposed railing, between No. 86 James's Street to the west and the container café to the east.
One feature of archaeological interest - the remains of a lime-mortared brick wall - was exposed 8m to the east of No. 86 James's Street, 0.4m below the level of the existing street pavement. The wall is part of the foundations of a building that previously stood on the site, and probably dates from the 18th century. The top of the wall is sufficiently deep not to be affected by the installation of the proposed railing and supporting concrete base.
Unit 39a, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny
