County: Wicklow Site name: Bray Head House, Putland Road, Bray
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 20E0396
Author: Edel Barry & Thaddeus Breen; Shanarc Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Urban, post-medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 726875m, N 717508m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.192868, -6.101304
Test excavations were carried out on 28-29 October 2020 on the grounds of Bray Head House, Putland Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow, in association with a proposed Strategic Housing Development of 183 residential units and associated amenities. The historic Bray Head House is a protected structure (RPS Ref. B67; NIAH Ref 1630039).
A total of 8 test trenches were excavated around the south and east sides of Bray Head House. Trenches measured 1.5-1.9m in width, 20-38m in length and 0.4-0.7m in depth.
Trenches 1 to 4, to the south of the house, were excavated in areas originally forming part of the gardens of Bray Head House and a yard containing associated outbuildings. The present paved surfaces were laid down on rubble, likely to be partly derived from the demolition of an extensive series of outbuildings which formerly stood here, and also possibly from an earlier demolition episode, such as the demolition of possible 18th-century structures that pre-date the present house and its former outbuildings on the site. The remains of a wall identified in Trench 1, which is not depicted on historic Ordnance Survey maps, may relate to the earlier development of the site in the mid-18th century.
Trenches 5 and 6 were located in a low-lying area to the east of the House, which in modern times was paved over and used as a tennis court. The blue-grey clay natural exposed here suggests that it was once a marshy area.
Trenches 7 and 8 were sited in a former walled garden to the south-east of the house, which was also once lined to the east and west sides, predominantly, by outbuildings. Those to the east side appear to have been demolished at an earlier date to those to the west. Evidence of structural remains in the area was represented during testing by a mortar surface exposed in Trench 7.
The findings of the test-excavation are consistent with what would be expected in the grounds of an historic house, with drains being the main feature found. No artifacts or structural remains indicating activity pre-dating the 18th century and later developments at the site were found.
Unit 39a, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny
