County: Louth Site name: Fair Street and Green Lanes, Moneymore, Drogheda
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LH024-041 Licence number: 22E0192
Author: Caroline Cosgrove
Site type: Late medieval wall, post-medieval well, walls and cobbling
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 708668m, N 775348m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.716480, -6.353664
Testing within the site took place on 26 June 2022. One trench was excavated at the northwest of the site and the second behind the community centre, where the gym, known locally as ‘Valhalla’, stood until it was recently demolished. The trenches were excavated down to natural at a depth between 1.7m and 2m. No features or deposits of archaeological significance were identified nor were any archaeological finds found within the trenches or the spoil heaps.
Monitoring of groundworks commenced after test trenching within Fair Street, which took place on an intermittent basis. The monitoring of groundworks included ground reduction, the excavation of duct trenches, and piling.
Test trenching in the Green Lanes took place on August 23 and finished August 24. A trench was excavated the full length of the green totalling 61m in length. The trench was excavated to the depth required for the insertion of the ducts which ranged from 1.25m at the south-western end of the trench to 0.78m depth at the north-eastern end. Natural was seen for 7.5m length from the southwest. The trench deposits consisted of construction rubble from the houses knocked along Copper Alley.
In December 2023, to the front of the community centre, further ground reduction took place. A number of 18th/19th-century features were revealed: C30 a redbrick arch-shaped culvert with a cobbled base; a north to south aligned wall C32, an east to west aligned stone wall C15, a red brick floor C18 and a spread of cobbles C19. A stone-lined well was uncovered to the southeast of the site in front of the community centre, beneath a thick slab of concrete. It was c. 14m in depth.
To the south of the site at a slightly lower level to the 18th/19th-century walls, a stone wall was recorded, with clay bonding (C10). This wall was considered to be late medieval house, with a doorway, roughly at the centre, with evidence of cobbling. It was recorded and preserved in situ.
Two further duct trenches were excavated in the front yard. No further structures, features or deposits were identified. A total of 34 medieval pottery sherds, one medieval floor tile, 52 post-medieval pottery sherds, one ridge tile, one notched slate, and one glass shard were retrieved from the site. All works are now complete. No further archaeological mitigation is required.
Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit Ltd, Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth
