County: Wicklow Site name: Willow Grove, Killickabawn, Kilpedder
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 22E0325
Author: Eoin Halpin
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 726672m, N 709407m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.120151, -6.107544
Following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, permission was granted for the construction of a two-storey residential care building and all associated site works. The Development Applications Unit, Wicklow County Council planners and An Bord Pleanála all agreed to the requirement for archaeological works as part of the development programme.
The initial phase of works, consisting of a geophysical survey (22R0045) recorded no clear archaeological pattern in the data. It was considered that a number of isolated responses might represent pit-type features; however, an archaeological interpretation was cautious and they might equally have represented more deeply buried ferrous material.
In order to avoid potential conflicts between archaeology and construction, a follow-up phase of pre-development licensed archaeological test trenching was undertaken across the footprint of the proposed development, including the access avenue and service areas.
A total of 20 machine-dug trenches were opened up each 1.5m wide and spaced at roughly 10m intervals on the 26 March 2022. The considerable variation in natural subsoil conditions, which varied between deposits of almost pure sand to compacted glacial gravels, are considered an explanation for the majority of the
features noted in the geophysical surveys.
Nothing of archaeological interest was noted.
AHC Ltd 36 Ballywillwill Road, Castlewellan, Co. Down BT31 9LF
