2020:488 - Darton (Kennedies Road, Armagh), Armagh

Archaeological evaluation (test-trenching) works were undertaken on 17 February 2020 on behalf of Mr. John Erskine, and relate to a Planning Application for a proposed replacement dwelling and detached garage at lands 135m north-east of 14 Kennedies Road, Killylea, Co. Armagh (Planning Ref: LA08/2018/0452/F).

Five trenches, each c.1.5m wide and totaling approximately 137 linear metres of trenching, were excavated during on-site works. However, no archaeological features, deposits or remains were identified in the area under investigation with glacial subsoil being encountered at a depth of c.0.1-0.35m throughout each of the trenches.

Consultation of the 1st and 3rd edition Ordnance Survey 6" (OS) maps confirms that most of the PDA is located within the north-west limit of the garden associated with Darton although the building is located outside the boundary of the historic garden.

A small structure, presumably the dwelling which is to be replaced, is shown within the western portion of the site from the earliest Ordnance Survey map of c.1830 and appears on the subsequent 3rd edition map of c.1900, on which the area to its rear (south-east) appears to have been planted with a line of trees.

However, on-site works would seem to suggest that the original building, which respects the topography of the surrounding field to north-east and south-east, was accessed from north-west at a time when the road was much lower through this area. It seems probable that the original (presumably single-storey) building was either already uninhabited or that it became unusable following the raising of the road and that the upper level was built on top of the original ground floor walling of the structure, with access level with the road.

The foundations and floor of the original building are to be retained with a portion of the north-west-facing wall fabric to be retained to a height of c.1.2m above the floor of the current building and the area filled to a depth of c.1.5–1.8m to facilitate driveway construction due to a substantial three-phase, high voltage underground electricity cable being located within the narrow (c.1.2m wide) grass strip between the wall and the road surface. Minimal excavation works will be undertaken within this area during construction of the new access driveway and will require excavation (and removal of walling) to a depth of c.0.45m below the current ground level adjacent to the road.

Christopher J. Farrimond, FarrimondMacManus Ltd (Derry), 150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.