2020:170 - Beaubec, Bey More, Meath

Introduction
The research excavations at Bey More Townland, County Meath 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 second season of excavations took place between 6 July and 31 July 2020. Six cuttings comprising 70m2 were hand-excavated from the removal of the top sod to undisturbed boulder clay (Cuttings E–H, J, Q). A further ten trial cuttings comprising 28m2 were also hand-excavated from the removal of the top sod to undisturbed boulder clay. The trial cuttings were laid out to trace the extent of the walls of the main building and the extent of the range of farm buildings first identified in July 2019 (Cuttings K–P, R–U).

The western building range
Three cuttings expanded on the area of excavation west of the service tower and revealed the western end of a range of buildings (Cuttings E–F and Q).

The western building range – Test cuttings
A number of small test cuttings were excavated to follow the north wall of the medieval building range to the west of the tower block. From west to east, these were Cuttings M, L, O, S and P. Another test cutting, Cutting U, was excavated to determine the south-eastern extent of the building range.

The main building
Cuttings K, N, R and T were excavated in an effort to trace the floor plan of the main building, or tower block, at Beaubec. The tower block’s only upstanding remains are its southern wall (with its French buttress), and its intact service tower.

The Service Tower
Cutting H
The interior of the service tower was excavated this season to provide further evidence for the date and purpose of this structure. The interior was excavated to a depth of c.1m except where the base of a newly-discovered latrine reached a maximum depth of 2.4m. This latrine was uncovered in the southern end of the tower (W 1.1m, L 2.1m, D 1.8m). It has plank-centred (in situ) semi-circular arched, intra-mural culverts (L 1m, H 0.98m). At a height of 0.65m the wall of the culvert stops and the arch begins. Each plank in the centring is 0.16m wide and there are an estimated ten planks forming the arch of the culvert.
A dividing wall separates the latrine from the rest of the tower interior. This was built with randomly coursed, mortared masonry. Slates were used as a damp course (which also occurs in the south range of medieval building/s). This is 0.52m wide and two courses high (H ext. 0.45m; H 1.8m). There is a lowering in the middle of the wall which may have been where a timber superstructure for the latrine was carried. Opposite and in line with the level of the dividing wall are three regular small holes arranged horizontally in the south gable wall. These are 1.25m above the base of culvert and probably held the timber superstructure for the toilet seats. Mortared bedding for a floor and two remaining stones are tied into the exterior of the dividing wall. In the interior of the tower at the same level was a charcoal spread (HF6) also level with the dividing wall that may have been the remains of an original timber floor. It was sampled (S63) and proved rich in charred plant remains very well-preserved indicating burning in situ. The plant remains include bread wheat grains and chaff, oat, rye, legumes, barley and weed seeds. In the lower fill of the latrine was a series of medieval waste deposits. The basal fill (HF8) of the latrine, which had a slightly rounded profile, was a light gravely silt deposit (D 0.1m).

The Moat
Cutting J
This 2m x 8m cutting was excavated to further explore the moat first discovered in 2010. Excavation at the base of Cutting J revealed the medieval moat (W 5m, D 0.8m) which runs on a north-south axis through the cutting. It had a very gently curving base and had been cut into natural (JF31). The outer face of the ditch was disturbed by the insertion of a possible well (JF22). The primary fill (JF26) of this ditch was an organically rich dark grey waterlogged clay with wood fragments and a concentration of sherds from a fourteenth-century fuming pot. This was sampled #65 for paleoenvironmental analysis. There is a berm between the inner revetment wall and the ditch where a layer of disturbed natural had built up (JF18). Above this were deposits producing medieval material (JF24–5). This comprised a reddish-brown silty clay (JF25) with angular and sub-angular stones; it contained ceramic fragments, a possible floor tile fragment and a deposit rich in mortar which contained a fragment of window glass of possible medieval origin. The top portion of a mid-fourteenth-century Drogheda Ware fuming pot was discovered at the base of the moat.

Conclusions
To date the excavations at Bey More have provided evidence for four main phases of activity on the site ranging from prehistory to the eighteenth century. To a large extent, the main aims of these research excavations have been achieved with the confirmation of a significant medieval presence on the site and the near certainty that this is the Cistercian grange of Beaubec. Following one further season of excavation (in July 2021, it is hoped) the process of post-excavation analysis will begin. With the assistance of specialists reports and documentary research it should be possible to provide a clear and convincing narrative of life in this field in eastern Co. Meath.

For full report see: https://beaubechome.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/beaubec2020preliminaryreport-all.pdf

Chapel Road, Julianstown, Co. Meath