2022:750 - STRADBALLY RESERVOIR WATER MAINS REHABILITATION SCHEME, Carricksallagh, Stradbally, Co. Laois, Laois

Monitoring of a trench intended for laying a new watermain adjacent to an early medieval ecclesiastical site and medieval church (LA019-003001-003) revealed several ditches, some of which probably represent enclosures related to the monastic site and/or the church. The features were not excavated at this time.

A trench 182m long, typically 0.60-1.00m wide and with an area of 113m2, was excavated under direct archaeological control. The trench, which was intended to be utilised for pipe laying, was positioned along the line of the proposed new pipes, which was along the border between the asphalt road surface and the grass verge, on the western side of the small local road. The position of the trench was constrained by the road, which is in regular use by residential and agricultural vehicles, and, in the southern half of its route, by an underground telecoms cable.

Several potential archaeological features were revealed along the monitored trench, all cut into the natural subsoil. These are described broadly from south to north and, where applicable, in stratigraphic order. None of the features were excavated and are described as seen in the trench.

East to west aligned Ditch 1, truncated at its western side by later ditch 5 (see below) was only seen for a length of 0.35m, but was clearly a substantial feature 2.30m wide. Where slightly truncated during stripping, the ditch could be seen in the trench baulk to be at least 0.15m deep. Three fills were observed on the surface of ditch 1 (53, 54 and 55). The most southerly fill (53) consisted of mid yellow brown silty clay with occasional stone and gravel, 0.50m wide. Directly to the north was mid grey brown clayey silt (54) with frequent rounded small stones, occasional charcoal and a rare amount of animal bone, occupying the centre of the ditch with a width of 1.00m; this is the upper ditch fill. At the north was mid brown orange silty clay (55) with occasional small stones and occasional charcoal, 0.80m wide.

Ditch 2 was aligned north-west to south-east and, as it is truncated at the west by later ditch 5, was only visible for a length of 0.35m within the trench. The ditch has a width of 2.20m and a visible depth of greater than 0.10m. The single fill seen on the trench surface (56) is mid orange brown clayey silt with infrequent small stones and charcoal inclusions.

Located parallel to and 1.10m north of ditch 2 is another ditch (3), also only seen for a length of 0.35m within the trench. This ditch is 0.80m wide and has a depth greater than 0.15m. A single fill was observed in the trench (57), consisting of mid brown clayey silt with occasional small stone inclusions.

Gully 4, found north of ditches 2 and 3, has a south-west to north-east orientation and, again, is truncated at the west by ditch 5. The visible length was 0.40m and the gully is 0.30m wide and over 0.05m deep. Gully 5 contains mid orange brown silty clay (58) with occasional inclusions of stones and rare charcoal flecks.

Ditch 5 mirrors the western boundary of the existing roadway and was visible along the western edge of the pipe trench, towards its southern end, for a length of approximately 50m. The ditch clearly continues parallel to but just outside the trench both north and south of where it was exposed. Ditch 5 had an observed width of up to 0.50m; its western side was not revealed, so its full width is not known. Mechanical test pits showed a depth of over 0.80m for the ditch and a single fill was observed to be mid to dark grey brown silt (59) with a high concentration of medium-sized pieces of limestone, frequent inclusions of pebbles, occasional fragments of brick and infrequent pieces of animal bone, shell and charcoal. The alignment of the ditch parallel to the road and the early modern material in the fill, suggests that ditch 5 is part of the former road boundary, now removed in this stretch. This late date corresponds with the stratigraphic relationships, where ditch 5 clearly truncated ditches 1, 2 and 3, as well as gully 4.

Deposits 61, 62 and 63 all appear to be constituent parts of a road or pathway aligned across the trench from west to east towards the church. Two stone gate posts stand in the western road boundary hedge here and the track is also aligned with this gateway. The track surface itself (62) had an observable length of at least 0.60m and was 3.00m wide. The depth is not known. The deposit is composed of a pale yellowish white to grey mix of sand and mortar, with gravel and small stones embedded into the surface. On the south side of the gravel road surface is a rough line of stones (61), over 0.60m long west to east and approximately 1.20m wide. These pale yellowish white smooth stones, varying in size from 0.25m to 0.40m in diameter, could be kerbing on the road edge, or possible a poor-quality wall foundation. On the north is a deposit of stones (63), less well-defined than its southern counterpart. Stone deposit 63 measured over 0.60m long within the trench, has a width of 0.90m and its thickness is not known. The deposit consists of pale yellowish white smooth stones varying in size from 0.15m to 0.30m in diameter.

Ditch 6, the largest feature on the site, was aligned approximately south to north along the line of the trench. It had a length (north to south) of 19.5m a width of at least 0.60m (its full width was not seen) and an unknown depth. The fill (64) is composed of mid brown clayey silt with frequent inclusions of pebbles and small stones. Ditch 6 may relate to the original boundary of the church to its east.

The test trench was sterile of archaeology for approximately 35m north of this ditch.

Deposit 65 represented an earlier road surface, pre-dating the current asphalt road, and comprised multi-coloured pebbles pressed into a compacted sandy silt matrix. The surface occupies a gentle concave hollow, 1.80m wide and aligned north to south.

Two ditches were noted at the northern end of the monitored trench, adjacent to a field entrance, close to the junction with the main road. Ditch 7 was seen to be aligned north-west to south-east across the trench. The ditch is at least 0.60m long, 3.00m wide and has a depth greater than 0.35m. The fill (66) comprises mid brown moderately firm silt with occasional small stones and charcoal.

Ditch 8 lies 2.3m to the north of ditch 7 and was the most northerly observed feature in the test trench. This north-west to south-east aligned ditch was seen for a length of 0.60m, has a width of 1.80m and is over 0.20m deep. A single fill (67) was seen in the trench, composed of mid brown moderately firm silt with occasional small stones and charcoal.

Although not excavated in the exposed pipe trench and therefore not dated, it is likely that some of these features represent enclosure ditches related to the adjacent ecclesiastical enclosure of St Coleman’s monastery, founded in the 6th century, and the medieval church and graveyard (LA019-003001 -002 -003). Curving ditch 6, which was seen extending along part of the trench, could be part of a circular enclosure, 85m in diameter and centred approximately on the church ruins. An extrapolation of this circuit corresponds approximately with the graveyard and townland boundary shown on the mid 19th century Ordnance Survey map, suggesting that the ditch represents the western portion of the original ecclesiastical enclosure.

Two pairs of ditches were also recorded; ditches 2 and 3 at the south and ditches 7 and 8 at the north. Each pair of ditches was 1-2m apart and they could both represent a former boundary with an earthen bank flanked by a ditch on either side. Extrapolating a circle, almost concentric with that formed by ditch 6 and meeting both pairs of exposed ditches, gives a 127m diameter enclosure that respects the curving road that bounds the graveyard at the north-east, perhaps an original outer enclosing element of the ecclesiastical site.

Ditches 2 and 3 towards the southern end of the monitored trench were seen to be truncated by ditch 5 that is parallel with the current road and presumably represents the former road boundary, now removed in this location. An early modern date is likely for this feature. Also truncated by ditch 5 and therefore earlier in date, are another ditch (1) and a small gully (4).

Located west of the end of the church and adjacent to a pair of stone gate posts set into the field boundary, are the remains of a gravel trackway flanked by lines of stones that could be kerbing or wall foundations (deposits 61–63). Together these features appear to represent a former track leading to the church, although its date and relationship with other features was not revealed.

Another trackway or former road surface (65) was noted further north and could be an early iteration of the current road.

It is recommended that, unless the route for the watermain can be substantially altered, all the features exposed in the line of the proposed pipe trench be fully excavated in advance of the development proceeding in this area.