2020:199 - BONNETSTOWN, Kilkenny

Subsequent to an archaeological and built heritage impact assessment, a monitoring licence was granted for improvement works within the bounds of Bonnetstown Hall, an 18th-century estate with medieval archaeological remains. The works were scheduled to commence during 2019 but was deferred to 2020.

Monitoring commenced on 28 October 2020 until 9 December 2020. This entailed machinal excavation of box trenches to retain ESB or drainage ducting. The typical trench dimensions were 0.4m in width by between 0.3m and 0.55m in depth and the stratigraphy throughout was 0.2–0.3m sod and topsoil onto pale yellow white sandy silt. At one location (ITM 646867 657594) a large 20m by 8m septic tank area was excavated. This stratigraphy was 0.2–0.3m sod and topsoil onto 0.7m pale yellow white sandy silt onto yellow boulder clay with limestone. In all some 1030m of box trenching was completed.

No archaeology has been encountered to date. Work is scheduled to resume in January 2021.