2021:591 - Trim Cultural & Arts Centre, High Street, Townparks North, Trim, Meath

A series of archaeological works undertaken at the site of the Library and St Patrick’s school plots comprises excavation and a watching brief from 1987; monitoring of geotechnical test-pits in 2019; two phases of test-excavations in 2019; and this current phase of monitoring and limited excavation under licence 21E0328 & ext. over 2021. All these works have revealed a site with multiple phases of activity often located deep under existing ground levels. In September 2022 the rear section of the existing Library was demolished and exploratory test-pits or cuttings were machine excavated to locate service trenches and expose the sub-structure of concrete and blocks that had been laid for the earlier construction of the Library. While this generally entailed the excavation of ground disturbed in recent decades it also, in places, exposed archaeological layers from the medieval period and later. The main phase of archaeological monitoring of the groundworks took place on 13-22 October 2021 whereby the overall ground level was reduced to a building/formation level entailing general ground reductions of between 0.3-0.8m within the site. Piling was then inserted to support the new building.
The earliest phase is associated with the first period of Anglo-Norman settlement in the town and possibly earlier. The most archaeologically significant feature relates to a masonry structure or possible ‘castle’ represented by an L-shaped section of walling (just over 1m thick) with a substantial parallel wall recorded in the 1987 excavations forming another side of it. Pottery found within the walls dated it to the 12th or 13th centuries. A large ditch with a distinctive peaty clay fill revealed in the earlier investigations appeared to encircle the stone building but whether as a defensive moat or part of an earlier abandoned earthwork or enclosure couldn’t be determined.
Several post-medieval structures including cellars and a well were identified but all had been levelled by the time of the first edition OS map of 1837.
Artefacts retrieved during the current phase of monitoring and excavation comprised Dublin- and Trim-type wares and a fragment of iron plate.
The excavation of an ESB ducting trench as part of the development was to be monitored under this licence and due to be completed in 2022.

Unit 1 Tenure Business Park, Monasterboice, Drogheda, Co. Louth A92 K2VF