2022:934 - Rear Library Garden, Castledermot, Kildare

A survey and programme of archaeological monitoring of works was undertaken with respect to the conservation (Phase 1) of sections of the Town Wall Defences located in the rear Library Garden, Castledermot, Co. Kildare.

The western wall to the site, together with sections of the southern and northern boundary walls reflect the line of the medieval town wall defences established in Castledermot in the later 13^th-early 14^th century. The walls were still intact until 1650 when they were ‘pulled down’ in advance of an attack by Cromwellian military forces.

The construction date of the existing wall is unknown. The basal width of the existing walls is approximately 0.6m; archaeological investigations undertaken elsewhere in the town indicated medieval wall foundations ranging in thickness of 1.5–2m. The random rubble construction style of the subject walls is consistent throughout, on both the internal and external faces exposed to date (south wall: 9m; west wall: 12.4m); likewise, the construction fabric to the internal faces is consistently similar; aside from larger granite stones at the external corner of the southern and western walls, the external fabric is similar to that of the internal faces, although no brick material was noted.

It is likely that parts of the existing walls may have been rebuilt in the eighteenth century; in particular, the internal faces may have been fully rebuilt; however, the absence of brick on the external face of the southern wall may be indicative of the earlier medieval construction, particularly the use of the large granite stones at the external corner to the southern and western sections, for which there is no evidence internally. In addition, the uppermost sections of the external wall face may also be a later rebuild. The effect of weathering and damage caused by vegetation growth had made it extremely difficult to determine any readily apparent construction phases. In addition, it is probable that the walls would have been much thicker than that which currently exists; this is not only from a defensive perspective but also from a construction perspective, as a wider wall would provide for better stability, particularly in terms of height.

However, irrespective of the construction date, the walls must be considered to be an integral and significant component to the overall archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage of the town, particularly in terms of preserving a section of the circuit of the medieval town defences and providing a focus for the interpretation of the town’s wealthy historical past. In that regard, such importance greatly necessitates their continued retention and repair.

The Phase 1 Conservation Works generally comprised the removal of the vegetation growth from the top, inner and outer faces of the southern wall, an approximately 3m section from the outer face of the western wall, adjacent the south-western corner, and the top and internal face of the west wall for a length of approximately 12.4m from the south-western corner; the subsequent masonry works included recording, dismantling and rebuilding the dislodged section at the south-west corner, reconstruction of the eastern section of the southern wall which collapsed following removal of vegetation, repoint the surviving west elevation inner face and southern elevation, both faces, flaunching and soft-capping the southern elevation, flaunching the surviving west elevation (approx. 12.4m) and southern exposed face of a breach to the north and grouting the core of the wall where voids were encountered.

Removal of the vegetation and collection of stone from the wall bases and mound in the north-west corner was undertaken under full-time archaeological attendance, supplemented by inspection visits during the general masonry works.

No ground-surface reduction/excavation works were undertaken and no material of archaeological interest/potential was noted or recovered during the works; removal of rubbish and soil debris was undertaken at the external base of the southern wall, exposing a tarmac surface. The only feature of note was a possible straddle stone incorporated into the inner face of the southern wall, which was retained in situ.