2020:477 - Sandyford House, Sandyford Road, Balally, Dublin 18, Dublin

Archaeological monitoring was carried out in response to planning conditions attached to a development site. There are no recorded monuments within 250m of the proposed development area. Monitoring took place intermittently over the course of February and March 2020. Historic analysis has shown that the development area was used as a green space associated with Sandyford House from the 17th century.

The first phase of invasive groundwork involved the demolition of a pre-existing wall along the south-western boundary and the excavation of a new foundation trench to accommodate a larger replacement. The new trench measured approximately 35m long by 0.5m wide with an average depth of 0.35m. The topsoil comprised a mid-brown sandy clay with frequent stones and boulders. The southern quarter of the trench uncovered a live Victorian ceramic sewer pipe servicing the adjacent property. A second wall foundation of similar dimensions was excavated along the eastern boundary of the site. The soil in this location was an organic dark-brown clay with frequent stones and root action.

Excavation for the foundations began in the north-east of the site, directly adjacent to Sandyford House. The foundations comprised two approximately equal-sized bays surrounded by a perimeter trench and divided by a central horizontal trench. The dimensions of the bays were 18m by 8m while the trenches were 1m wide x 0.8m deep. The soil in this location was a greyish-brown mixed silty sand with frequent stone (including some large granite boulders), roots, and modern debris which likely related to pre-existing outbuildings. The average depth of subsoil across the site was 0.4m and was a mottled brownish-yellow clay.

No archaeological remains were identified during monitoring.

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