2022:729 - N77 Ballyragget Village to Ballynalsee Road Improvement Scheme: Stage (i) Testing, Kilkenny

The Stage (i)a Standard Test Excavations and Stage (i)f Townland Boundary Survey of the N77 Ballyragget Village to Ballynaslee Road Improvement Scheme, Co. Kilkenny were carried out between 9 and 24 November 2022. The scheme was divided into seventeen (17) Contract Testing Areas (Area 1–Area 17). One area (Area 3) was omitted from the investigations due to safety concerns. The total length of linear metres excavated was 3,665.5m, representing a 13.5% sample of the area available for test excavations. During the Stage (i)a Standard Test Excavations, four sites of archaeological potential were identified (Ballyconra 1–¬4), while two further Stage (i)e Architectural/Built Heritage Survey sites (Ballyconra 5 and 6) were chosen for further Stage (ii) and (iii) works.

Area 11: Trenches T11.26 and T11.27 revealed the presence of two vernacular structures recorded on historical mapping. The northernmost structure appeared in Trench T11.27. It is represented by remnants of a wall with return (C11.05) of roughly shaped limestone, with lime mortar apparent. Two layers of stone were exposed. The wall was exposed for 3.25m on its north–south line, forming a right angle at its northern extent and extending into the trench edge, such that 1.65m was exposed within the trench. The southern structure was in Trench T11.26. It consists of two parallel walls aligned east-west with portions of cobbling between and a secondary structure attached to the south-western face of the south-western wall. The north-east wall (C11.10) survives on average to 0.27m in height with two courses evident and is made of roughly shaped stone. Cobbling (C11.11) is present between the two main walls and measures 3.65m in length and 0.37m in width within the test trench. The south-western wall and annex (C11.12) comprise two wall portions. The east–west portion measures 2.42m in length and 0.37m in width. The north–south portion measures 1.7m in length and 0.47m in width. This site was designated as Ballyconra 1 for Stage (ii) and Stage (iii) works (ITM: 643508, 672891).

Area 12: This site comprises two ditch segments (C12.07 and C12.08) which were identified in Trenches T12.1, 12.3 and 12.6. These correlate with Geophysical Anomalies GA 15/31 identified in a survey commissioned by Kilkenny County Council under licence 18R0092 (Gimson & Hogan 2018) and evidently form a sub-circular ditch of approximate 11–12m diameter. The possible enclosure ditch measures 2.35m wide and 0.46–0.62m deep in the excavated sections. One fill was recorded, a mid-brown clay with gravels and rounded stone fill. An additional ditch C12.05 may form part of the ring-ditch or represent evidence of a relict field system. This site was designated as Ballyconra 2 for Stage (ii) and Stage (iii) works (ITM: 643316, 673183).

A possible relict field system was present in trenches T12.11, T12.13, T12.14, T12.15, T12.18, T12.16 and T12.25 . The system consists of two linear boundaries not recorded on historical mapping, C12.14 following an east–west alignment (depth: 0.4m; width: 1.1m) and C12.15 following a north–south alignment (depth: 0.8m; width: 1.6m), extending outside the test trenches with no terminals found. A third possible boundary (C12.17) was present in T12.11 and measured 0.8m deep and 1.8m wide. All three features contain single fills of brown silty clay and sand with occasional gravel inclusions. A series of linear furrows was also recorded. This site was designated as Ballyconra 3 for Stage (ii) and Stage (iii) works (ITM: 643370, 673105).

A curvilinear feature (C12.11) with a single fill containing occasional lenses of ash and burnt clay was present at the south-eastern extent of T12.23, extending beyond the southern baulk. It measures 0.21m deep, 0.52m wide and 4.2m in length. The feature may represent fragments of a habitation site of indeterminate date. A series of linear furrows was also recorded. This site was designated as Ballyconra 4 for Stage (ii) and Stage (iii) works (ITM: 643399, 673082).

A sample proportion of the spoil generated from the excavation works throughout test trenching was metal detected under Licence No. 22R0360. No objects of archaeological interest were identified during metal detecting.

A Stage (i)f Townland Boundary Survey was carried out on the townland boundary (TB01) between Ballyconra and Ballynaslee, which crossed the scheme between Areas 13 and 14. The boundary is severed by the existing N77. To the west of the road, the boundary appears to have been levelled within the scheme extents. A small irregular paddock and lane were identified at the boundary site. The lane was cut into the landscape, removing any bank that may have existed. Waste ground to the north of the lane did not contain any bank or ditch. A demarcated Special Area of Conservation precluded testing of the boundary within the CPO to the east of the existing road.

A Stage (i)e Architectural/Built Heritage Survey carried was out at fourteen sites by Ciara O’Flynn, John Channing and Hugh Kavanagh on 24 and 25 November 2022. The sites included the remains of six boundary walls, four routeways, two structures, a roadside memorial and a retaining wall. The development will entail the demolition and removal of most of these built heritage sites. In consultation with the TII Project Archaeologist two further Stage (i)e Architectural/Built Heritage Survey sites (Ballyconra 5 and 6) were chosen for further Stage (ii) and (iii) works.

Ballyconra 5 (ITM: 643801, 672409) was likely the former gate lodge to Ballyconra Mill and Ballyconra Hall (now razed), which were located on the western bank of the River Nore. The derelict, roofless building is a three-bay, single-storey, single pile structure with a long return to the rear which appears to have been added later. A series of ruined outbuildings are evident to the north and northeast.

Ballyconra 6 (ITM: 643266, 673207) is a derelict two-bay, single storey, single pile vernacular building, accessed from the south. There is a double pitched roof of corrugated iron with concrete barges and a mono-pitch extension on the east elevation.

References:

Channing, J. 2023. N77 Ballyragget Village to Ballynaslee Road Improvement Scheme: Stage (i)a and Stage (i)f Report. Unpublished report by Archaeological Management Solutions on behalf of Kilkenny County Council.

Gimson, H. & Hogan, C. 2018. N77 Ballyragget Village to Ballynaslee Road Improvement Scheme, County Kilkenny Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract Stage (i) Geophysical Survey. Unpublished report by Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics for Kilkenny County Council.

O’Flynn, C. 2023. N77 Ballyragget to Ballynaslee Road Improvement Scheme Stage (i)e Architectural/Built Heritage Survey Report. Unpublished report by Archaeological Management Solutions on behalf of Kilkenny County Council

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