County: Tipperary Site name: Kickham Barracks, Davis Road Carpark, Clonmel
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 20E0104 ext.
Author: David Bayley & Fergal Murtagh
Site type: Victoria Barracks (18th century)
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 602765m, N 622690m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.355786, -7.959410
A programme of archaeological monitoring of ground disturbance was undertaken intermittently between August and October 2021 at Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, prior to the construction of public plazas and associated works.
The general stratigraphy was primarily comprised of tarmac, c. 0.1m deep, overlying a layer of dark brown silty clay c. 0.3-1m deep, that varied in compaction from soft to firm, with inclusions of occasional charcoal flecks. This in turn overlaid varying natural gravel layers containing water-rolled stones.
Monitoring revealed features associated with the military past of the Barracks. Mortared limestone walls were identified in the Central Plaza and the New Street and Park areas of the site, which are believed to be the remains of the original infantry barracks as seen on the first edition OS map (1839-41). A trench in the south-east of the site revealed a large quantity of animal bone which suggested that this is the location of the buried remains of army dogs such as regimental mascots. A Victorian culvert was identified in the northeast of the development site beneath a stone wall and later concrete wall.
The stratigraphy within the barracks site also included pieces of mortar, brick and piece of animal bone, suggesting the ground has been disturbed in the past.
c/o IAC Archaeology Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
