2019:668 - Beaubec, Bey More Td, Co. Meath, Meath

Introduction     The research excavations at Bey More Townland, County Meath, (ITM 709544 772877 – SMR ME020-031----) were undertaken with four chief research aims in mind: 1) to confirm the medieval date of the upstanding remains; 2) to develop a better understanding of the layout of the thirteenth century Cistercian foundation of de Bello Becco (Beaubec); 3) retrieve material evidence for external contacts in the form of imported ceramic; 4) identify the variety of agricultural goods produced on this monastic grange, which were then exported to Normandy. The excavation took place between 1 July 2019 and 26 July 2019. Four cuttings comprising 75m² were hand excavated from the removal of the top sod to undisturbed boulder clay. Cutting B (2m x 10m, with a 3m x 1m extension) and Cutting C (2m x 10m, with a 3m x 1m extension) were located immediately north of the upstanding remains of the medieval building. Cutting A (2m x 8m) and Cutting D (4m x 4m) were located 20m west of the upstanding remains in an area identified as ‘structural’ in the resistivity survey of this.

 Results     Three main phases of activity were revealed in the 2019 season at Bey More: Phase 1 – The remains of a Moated grange and associated pits and spade-cut trenches. Phase 2 – Medieval stone walls associated with a corn drying kiln in Cuttings A/D. In Cuttings B–C this phase is represented by a stone walls extending from the upstanding medieval building. Phase 3 – Eighteenth-century avenue and re-use of medieval building in Cuttings B–C.

 Phase 1: Moated grange, pits and spade-cut trenches     The earliest features uncovered at Bey More were cut into the natural yellow boulder clay and sealed by a buried sod layer (AF15, BF5, CF3, DF5) on which the later medieval stonewalls of Phase 2 were built. Archaeological evidence strongly indicates that the original medieval grange of Beaubec was defended by a moat with an interior revetment wall providing addition defence. A linear moat (BF11) runs roughly north/south, west (inside) of this is a 1.10m wide inner berm (BF4), and stone revetment wall running parallel to the moat (BF6/CF10). The moat cut into the boulder clay to a depth of 0.90m. The full width of this feature was not ascertained but it was at least 3m wide.

The moat was uncovered 0.60m below sod level. The upper ditch fill was sealed by the stony layer (BF2) and above an iron pan layer. It comprised grey silty clay with gravel and stones. It was sampled and plant remains including waterlogged seeds from blackberry and elder (S11) and charred grains of wheat and indeterminate cereals were identified. A thin iron pan sealed the lower ditch fill (BF8) 1.12m below the sod. It was 0.80m thick and sat on an undisturbed gravel surface. It is a dark grey silty clay with small stones and shell fragments. It produced a sherd of medieval fineware, Drogheda ware, worked wood fragments and animal bones. An environmental sample (S20–1) contained a small assemblage of waterlogged plant remains including elder, blackberry, knotweed, goosefoot, daisy (Asteraceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae) and unidentified weed seeds. It has also been sampled for insects (S23).

The waterlogged deposits of the moat (BF7) produced 26 fragments of medieval louvre ridge tiles and a large number of slates. Their position together in the basal silt and of moat suggests that a section of roof slid off a building located at the eastern end of the moated grange. The ridge tiles were probably fourteenth century in date (Kieran Campbell, pers. comm.) and the slates conformed to the 4-fold classification identified at Bective Abbey.

The revetment wall was, uncovered in both Cutting B (F6) and Cutting C (F10). In Cutting B the stone revetment wall runs into the north and south baulk (W 0.50m, H 0.62m). It survives three courses high, having a flat external face, with a rough stone core laid against a cut in the boulder clay. The largest stones in its make-up are 0.55m by 0.28m and the masonry is mortared. In Cutting C (F10) the stone revetment wall runs the full 3m width of the cutting and stands a maximum of four courses high (H 0.60m, W 0.52) with a finished external face and rubble core. The wall was deliberately breached in the south (excavated W 0.48m) and stone collapse lay west of the breach. This collapse may be the remains of the now missing section of revetment wall. A charcoal sample taken from the berm surface (S8) proved sterile.

Within the interior of the moated grange four post-pits were uncovered (BF10, CF6, CF10, CF13) and a spade-cut trench (CF7). Pit BF10 was only partially excavated because it was located in the extreme north-west of the cutting. It is greater than 1m in width and is 0.20m deep and sealed by the buried sod layer (BF5). Post pit CF6 was located in the centre of Cutting C. It too was cut into natural boulder clay and sealed by the 0.30m thick buried sod layer (CF3). It was uncovered at a depth of 0.64m below the sod and appeared as a roughly circular charcoal enriched surface (L 1.20m, W 1.02m, D 0.57m). Its edge was sharply cut in the north and more gradual in the south. It was filled with shattered stone (average size 0.22m by 0.07m), rounded stones and a grey silty clay. It produced an iron nail and when sampled (S1) contained plant remains including cereals (bread wheat and oats, some with chaff) and legumes. Post pit CF9 was located 2m to the east of CF6. It was detected at a depth

of 0.67m below the sod and was roughly circular in plan (L 0.70m, W 0.64m, D 0.20m) and is deepest in the south. It produced animal bone and flints, including a flint scraper. Pit CF13 is also located below the buried sod and lies east of the mortared medieval wall (CF3). Its measurements exceed 1.40m east/west by 1.30m north/south. This pit was dug 0.30m into the subsoil. A spade-cut trench (CF7) ran across the cutting in a north-west/south-east direction. It was detected at a depth of 0.86m below the sod, and was also overlain by the buried sod (CF3). It measures 1.10m in width and is 0.30m deep with a 0.50m wide flat bottom. This trench had a uniform fill of grey silty clay, which produced a single sherd of worn medieval pottery. The fill was sampled but proved sterile.

In Cuttings A/D two spade-cut linear trenches, thought to be cultivation furrows, were uncovered. These had been cut into the natural boulder clay (A/DF22, DF21) and were sealed by the buried soil layer (AF15, DF5). They ran on a north-west/south-east axis Furrow A/DF22 ran across the width of the Cutting A and on into Cutting D. It had a steeper side on the western edge than the east (W 0.90m–1.20m, D 0.15m–0.50m). The fill, a yellow/grey silty clay with charcoal flecks, produced animal bones including those of a small mammal (cat/dog?). Furrow AF21 ran south of and parallel to A/DF22. It was 1m wide with an uneven surface, shallower and less well defined. It had a fill of stones and yellow /grey silty clay. These spade cut trenches are thought to have originally been located in a garden or field outside the area of the moated grange. However, these boundaries have not been established and will need further investigation.

Phase 2: Medieval stone walls and kiln     A mortared wall (CF3) runs north/south and represents the subsurface remains of the medieval building to the south. Where it crosses Cutting C, the wall it is 1.10m wide. Wall footings lie at either site at the base of this mortared wall. Where they are in situ the wall is 1.30m wide. The wall lies immediately below the level of the 18^th century cobbled drive and it was, presumably, lowered to this level when the drive was constructed. In places the wall is four courses high, but more generally it is two courses and stands to a height of 0.40m. It is cut into (and therefore postdates) the upper 0.35m of the buried sod layer (CF3). A fragment of a ridge tile and a sherd of Saintonge pottery was a found in the layer and provides a terminus post quem for the mortared wall. This wall was originally detected in the 1997 trial excavations undertaken by Donal Murphy (excavation licence no. 97E0046). In total, this wall extends over 8m north of the upstanding remains.

Another stone wall ran through the full 6m width of cuttings A/D (A/DF3). It runs on a roughly north/south axis and varies in make-up and preservation. This may represent multiple phases of wall construction. It bends lightly to the south, possibly to respect the kiln, which would indicate that its construction post-dates the kiln but that it was built while the kiln was still in use. In Cutting A its truncated remains stood to three courses with external facing (average 0.44m by 0.43m by 0.17m), an inner rubble core, and a footing under the western face. It cuts a dark grey-brown, charcoal enriched layer, which may represent medieval domestic waste but is more likely a buried sod layer (AF14–15) similar to that uncovered in cuttings B–C (BF5, CF3). It produced animal bone, medieval Drogheda ware, glazed roof tiles and iron objects. In Cutting D, the wall is badly damaged with the stone faces partially missing.

In Cuttings A/D the bowl of a cereal drying kiln (A/D F 17) was uncovered positioned above the fill of the spade cut cultivation furrows. It appeared as a circular stone-lined feature enclosing a concentrated area of burning with alternate layers of fire-reddened soil and charcoal. When sampled, these layers contained large quantities of charred grain. The edging stones were set on their narrow axis. Its unexcavated flue opens to the south-east. The second phase of this structure incorporated a sandstone, chamfered, window mullion (0.26m x 0.80m x 0.18m) with a glazing-bar hole. Its upper fill comprised a mix of large stones, which may have been part of the original structure, and a dark charcoal enriched deposit. This stone deposit lay on an almost level stone-lined surface, which indicates secondary modification of the structure. The lower fill below this stone-lined surface comprised a brown/orangey layer above and below a charcoal rich layer Below this was a 0.20m layer of dark clay lying on natural boulder clay.

The kiln fills were sampled and produced a rich assemblage of charred grains; mostly bread wheat type, oats, rye and possibly barley. There were also some oat chaff present, and some stalks (rachis internodes). It also included weed seeds of corncockle (Agrostemma), radish (Raphanus) capsule and small items such as Chrysanthemum type seeds, buckwheat (Polygonaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), thistle (Centaurea) and bedstraw (Galium), with grass seeds and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Also present were fragments of legumes and charred fragments of hazelnut shell. The hazelnut shells might have been used as tinder for the kiln fire. some seeds from wild plants including charred elderberry (Sambucus) and possibly some knotweeds.

There were a number of burnt spreads immediately west of the kiln which may be associated with its working and resulted from the furnace being repeatedly raked out (DF4, 6, 9). When sampled these produced a rich assemblage of plant remains; cereals (wheat and oat grains appear to be present in roughly equal amounts, and wheat appears to be mostly bread wheat), legumes (including pea – possibly the richest pea sample from the site), stalk material, chaff (oat floret bases and rachis internodes) and weeds (Polygonaceae, small legumes, Galium and Cyperaceae). Sherds of medieval pottery, including Leinster cooking ware, were also found in these deposits, suggesting a thirteenth-century date for this kiln activity.

Phase 3: Eighteenth century avenue, re-use of medieval building     Remains of an eighteenth-century lane was uncovered in Cuttings B–C where it appeared as a stony layer of very rough cobbling (B–CF2). This rounded-stone spread incorporated pieces of bricks and slates at its base, with some mortar mixed in. The east/west running avenue was comprised of this cobbled surface and was defined either side (north and south) by a single course of stone or brick edging. The avenue was 3m wide. In Cutting C (CF2) only a triangular area of rough cobbling survived (L 3.70m, W 2.00m) just 0.25m below the sod. The cobbles had an average size of 0.12m by 0.10m and were tightly packed creating an uneven surface. The eastern edge of the avenue was partially uncovered in Cutting B (BF9) for a distance of 6.80m. This comprised a single course of stone blocks set on their long axis. The stones averaged 0.34 in length by 0.16m in width by 0.08m in depth. The layers associated with this avenue produced post-medieval potsherds, clay pipe fragments, pieces of iron and glass.

In the early part of the eighteenth-century Bey More was sold to Thomas Pearson of Athboy. He landscaped the grounds and laid out ‘gardens of the Dutch style’ which were, according to D’Alton’s History of Drogheda, ‘long admired’. He also built a four-storey red brick house c.1720 and the foundations of this building are visible to the northeast of the upstanding ruins at Bey More. An avenue which led up to this house is depicted on OS and earlier maps. This avenue traversed the site of medieval building at Beaubec resulting in its partial demolition. Collapsed building material sealed the medieval layers.

In Cutting B the excavation partially uncovered a large kidney-shaped hollow (L 4.05m, W 1.90m, D 1.30m) filled with vitrified bricks (clinker bricks), stones and slate fragments (CF3). At its base was a wet gley, marl-like, deposit which may indicate the location of a natural spring. This hollow may also have been where a tree had fallen down along the avenue and was subsequently back-filled with building debris. It most likely dates from Pearson’s time at Bey More in the eighteenth century.

The Gatehouse     The excavations at Bey More afforded an opportunity to plan and further analyse the upstanding medieval remains on the site. These are the remains of an L-shaped building, two–storey’s high with an attic level. It is a plain build of roughly coursed limestone blocks. It contains a main chamber with a southwest tower. The later is relatively narrow and may have functioned as a service tower. It stands to roof level with a battered gable. The only carved stone feature present is a red sandstone, pointed arch window, in the east gable. Sandstone architectural fragments are also incorporated into its make-up. All that survives of the main chamber is the south wall, the remainder was demolished in the early eighteenth century to make way for an avenue that led to the nearby Pearson house (c.1720). Fortunately, the tower was not on the line of the avenue and survived this development. It was re-roofed and brick was used in the repairs, probably in the eighteenth century.

The south-west tower (inner dimensions L 5.70m, W 2.10m), runs on a north/south axis and had access on the ground and first floor level in the west end of the south wall to the main chamber. These openings are now blocked and plastered over. The blocking incorporates carved sandstone blocks. The tower had wooden floors and the beam slots are present in the interior walls. In the ground floor there is a blocked slit ope in the east wall with a round segmental arch and on first floor level there is a larger ope with a splayed embrasure. There are putlog holes either side of this ope. In the attic level of the south gable there is a pointed red sandstone with chamfered mullions and glazing groove. There is also a carved sandstone fragment that may be part of a window in the upper level of the west sidewall. A breech in the west wall dates from later use of the building.  A lump of masonry has been used to block it. There are putlog holes in the east wall. The upper level of the inner east gable wall has secondary brick repairs probably dating from its re-use in the eighteenth century. The lower level exterior of the tower is rendered, possibly indicating the former presence of lean too buildings.

The main chamber stands to the north of the SW tower (L 4.60m). All that is upstanding is the south wall. It is two storeys high and is lit by flat-lintelled, slit opes with widely-splayed embrasures. There are putlog holes present. The broken face for the west return (W 1.10m) is heavily mortared with a sandy/gravel mix. It has an inner and outer face with a rubble core and was faced in the eighteenth century with brick. There is a diagonal buttress at the east end of the south wall. According to Con Manning (pers. comm.) the diagonal buttress is very rare if not unique in Ireland. One glossary referred to this type of buttress as a ‘French buttress’. Another glossary dated them mainly from the last quarter of the 13th century to the 16th century.

Conclusions     While the excavation results provide evidence for three main phases, subsequent excavations will probably pinpoint further complexities. For example, the phase 2 features in Cuttings A/D – where a sandstone moulding was reused in the medieval kiln (D/AF17)– probably postdate the revetment wall which is thought to be the original boundary of the c.1215 grange farm (BF6, CF10). In addition, the wall crossing Cutting C (CF3), attributed to phase two, is clearly tied into the upstanding remains which are thought to be late medieval in date. There is also the possibility that some of the earliest Phase 1 features could be early medieval, as the site was known as ‘Killokeran’ when first granted to the Cistercians prior to 1215.

To a large extent, the four main aims of the first season of research excavations at Bey more have been achieved. The late-medieval date of the upstanding remains has been confirmed by the finds associated with the wall CF3. Further, detailed survey of the site and discussions with archaeologists Con Manning and David Sweetman, have identified many late-medieval features consistent with the archaeology and history of Beaubec. Imported French Saintonge ceramics, retrieved from the excavation, have provided evidence for external contacts with France. Sampling procedures have identified the variety of agricultural goods produced on this monastic grange, which were then exported to Normandy. The discovery of a corn-drying kiln is evidence for Beaubec being the site of processing of agricultural produce prior to export. While the archaeological evidence points to the original Cistercian grange as having been defended within a moat and revetment wall, the precise dimensions of the early farm and the layout of buildings within the moated grange requires further investigation.

Chapel Road, Julianstown, Co. Meath