2021:500 - 29 Shore Road, Annalong, Down

The proposal relates to an archaeological condition on a full planning permission for the construction of a terrace of four dwellings, access and associated services at 26 Shore Road Annalong, Co Down.

There are no known specific sites of Cultural heritage interest to be impacted upon by this development, however as the site lies within the Area of Archaeological Potential associated with the historic settlement of Annalong, HED recommended that a developer-funded programme of archaeological works should be conditioned.

Testing showed the natural in the area to consist of a mixture of shattered sandstone bedrock and deposits of glacial tills, sands and gravels. Within the central area of the site, disturbance associated with the construction of the existing house and associated tarmac driveway effectively removed any potentially archaeological deposits. Within the area of the vegetable patch in the south-west corner and the garden plot on the east side of the site, evidence for disturbance in the form of highly cultivated soils, extended down to the top of the natural in both areas, with nothing of archaeological significance noted.

The wooden lean-to shed in the south-east corner of the site was demolished and the area tested to ascertain whether any footprint of a building which appeared on the OS 1st edition map, extended into this area. A small test trench was opened across the projected line of the north wall of the building. It was clear that the wall and any footings in this area had been substantially disturbed in the past. This interior of the building to the north, which will be demolished as part of the development, but not built upon, was investigated, with a pictorial record undertaken.

AHC Ltd 36 Ballywillwill Road, Castlewellan Co Down BT31 9LF