2020:825 - Ardee Point (Newmarket/Ardee Street/Brabazon Place/St Luke's Avenue), Dublin, Dublin

Archaeological monitoring and excavation was carried out at Ardee Point (Newmarket, Ardee Street, Brabazon Place/Row, St Luke’s Avenue), Dublin 8 between 4 June 2020 and 4 November 2020. Archaeological works conducted at Ardee Point revealed several phases of activity ranging from the medieval period to the 19th century. The most substantial remains recorded across the development area relate to the development of the brewery complex which would coalesce into the Watkins, Jameson and Pimms Brewing Co. by the mid-19th century.

The earliest phase of activity was represented by what has been interpreted as a ‘crouched burial’ which had been truncated in the 19th century by the construction of a red brick malt processing tower. Several long bones were retrieved and these were dated to the Early Bronze Age (2137-1945 BC, UBA 47814), an extremely important find in the context of Dublin City. The closest comparable Early Bronze Age burials were identified at Kilmainham by Claire Walsh in 2002.

A medieval phase of activity was also identified across the site, a possible rectangular annex feature and two small gullies/ditches which extended to the east. The curvilinear ditch was recut by a smaller ditch which contained 13th- to 14th-century ceramic in its upper layers.

By the later 17th century, the modern layout of Newmarket had begun to develop under the aegis of the Earl of Meath. Six house footprints were identified across the development area, with the houses fronting Newmarket displaying evidence for cellar levels. The majority of these levels were preserved in situ beneath the development. Substantial modification of the house footprints appears to have been made through the 18th century, with the insertion of corner-style fireplaces, and at last one demi-basement style extension. The latter construction contained the truncated remains of stairway stringers in situ.

Small-scale industrial activity, consisting of various wash pits and undiagnostic trough features, and reliant on a number of well-built drains and red brick cisterns, gradually developed to the north of the houses fronting Newmarket. This industrial phase was later replaced by brewing activity, based on small-scale malting kilns, coal cellars and a horse- powered mill.

Recognisable elements of the latest brewery complex had developed by the late 18th century, involving a grain storage building extending east from Ardee Street and the brick supports to two ale skimming vats, again fronting Ardee Street. An early 1920’s bullet recovered from the backfill of the ale vats suggests that this particular phase of brewery activity had ceased by this date. It is considered that the red brick tower being retained on the development site dates to this phase.

The final incarnation of the brewery complex uncovered during the archaeological works consisted of a rebuild of the original grain store building, a brewhouse structure and three warehouse structures across the south of the development site.

No further archaeological fieldwork is considered necessary in regard to this development project.