2019:848 - Sean Foster Place, King Street North, Dublin 7, Dublin

Archaeological excavation was carried out from May to July 2019 on the site of demolished Georgian-era buildings removed in the 1970s to facilitate road widening on King Street North. The work relates to the provision of a 6-storey social housing scheme initiated by Dublin City Council and implemented by Duggan Brothers Ltd. The housing scheme, which will be known as Seán Foster Place, has been named after a child, Seán Foster, who was killed on King Street North during the 1916 Easter Rising.

Archaeological monitoring and excavation of the site revealed a series of Georgian-era (1714-1837) sub-surface walls and floor surfaces, drainage features, cellars, basement rooms and yards associated with the properties that formerly fronted Beresford Street, King Street North and Anne Street North. The walls relate to residential properties and outbuildings, warehouse footprints, internal structural divisions and yard boundaries. It is possible to relate many of the features uncovered to the footprint of buildings and yards shown on Rocque’s map of Dublin (1756) and to redevelopments recorded on the 1847 and 1886 Ordnance Survey maps from the Town Plan series. The remains on site are therefore of the Georgian era, and date from the 18th century, and of redevelopment that occurred into, and during the 19th century.

The majority of the finds dated from the 18th to 19th/early 20th centuries, and included 19th-century clay pipe fragments both locally produced and imported; a range of 17th- to 20th-century pottery fragments, mostly imported and some almost complete, from every variety of domestic vessel thinkable, such as dishes, plates, chamber pots, eggcups, jugs, bowls, teapots, ink, meat and preserve jars and an ointment pot. These represent the crockery used every day by the inhabitants of the former buildings. A variety of glass, including wine and beer bottles, perfume bottles, tableware, vials and medicine bottles, and even a lead crystal chandelier pendant, were found. Georgian and Victorian coins, fork knives, spoons, pocket knives and a handle of a tea kettle were among the household goods. Most finds were domestic in nature, but a few such as a butcher's hook, oven tiles and three memorial markers relate directly to the businesses being conducted on individual premises. Structural elements such as a gutter hook, window glass, brick from the Athy Brick and Tile Co., wall tiles and other fixtures and fittings were also recovered.

Unit 39a, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny