County: Meath Site name: Dolanstown, Kilcock
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 20E0404
Author: Maeve McCormick
Site type: 18th-19th-century mill
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 688750m, N 740395m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.406223, -6.665247
Test excavation was undertaken from 4-6 August 2020 at Kilcock. The overall site occupies 17.5 ha; with this phase of assessment focusing on an area of c. 6.1ha not previously subject to test-excavation. A geophysical survey (License 20R0134; O’Hara 2020) was undertaken in July 2020.
A total of 13 trenches (approx. 1475 linear metres) were initially excavated. An additional 5 trenches (approx. 90 linear metres) were excavated under an amended method statement on 26 August 2020 when two small fields were made available for assessment. The purpose of the additional trenches was to establish the extent of the below ground remains of Knocknatulla Mill and associated buildings and mill race.
Upon investigation it was revealed that the surviving remains of a corn mill complex known as Knocknatulla Mill and the associated mill-race were more substantial than anticipated. Test excavations (Trenches 16, 17 & 18) revealed buried remains associated with the mill at a depth of 1.25m below current ground level in the adjacent newly acquired field. The below ground remains discovered were in line with that noted in the 1st and 2nd edition OS map and comprised the remains of two buildings and an exterior cobbled surface.
Along with the mill, a 19th-century quarry was present in the centre of the subject area. A 19th-century pathway associated with the mill and quarry was uncovered in the north-east of the subject area.
Archer Heritage Planning, 8 Beat Centre, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.
