2023:534 - Fruit & Vegtable Market, Dublin 1, Dublin

This archaeological impact assessment was carried out at the request of Cotter & Naessens Architects, Cork, on behalf of Dublin City Council for the proposed refurbishment and improvements works at Dublin City Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, Dublin 1

Archaeological testing was required as part of the planning conditions to inform the archaeological impact assessment. Previous archaeological testing was carried out on the site by Emmet Stafford of IAC in 2001 under license 01E0710 - 1/2 and his results are referred to in this report.

The recent engineering site investigations also doubled up as additional archaeological testing.

Archaeological monitoring of the test trenches was carried out over a three-week period from 11-29 September 2023. A total of 32 test trenches was proposed for engineering purposes across the 3 areas of the site (Areas 1-3). However, 3 locations could not be excavated, these included test pits 12 and 13 in the Fruit Market (Area 1) and test pit 4 in the Chancery Street carpark (Area 2).

The trenches varied in length from 3m to 5m long by 0.6m wide and between 1.5m to 2.5m in depth. They were excavated by the contractor (HANMAR) using a rock breaker and mini digger. After recording of the trenches was completed the contractor backfilled them and reinstated the original ground surface.

The monitoring of the test pits in all 3 areas of the site revealed that deep infill deposits and masonry structures, including basements & cellars dating from the late 17^th to 20^th centuries, survive to depths of up to 2m beneath existing ground levels.

The trenches in the interior of the fruit market building (Area 1) revealed the remains of stone/brick walls the upper levels of which lie at depths of between 0.4-0.6m below the top of the existing floor slab. Most of these walls were located along the west side of the market building along the St Michan's Street frontage. The walls survive to heights of up 1.8m and are the remains of house basement and cellar structures associated with houses/shop buildings which fronted onto the street in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Prior to the construction of the fruit market in the late 1890s, the buildings were demolished, and the rubble used to infill the cellars and basements thus creating a solid base or sub-floor for the new market building. The ground plans of these buildings, including outbuildings, backyards, and laneways etc., are illustrated on Rocque’s 1756 map and on the 1847 OS map.

The subsoil levels in the market building appear to be at c. 2m+ along the eastern side wall and at depth of up 2.5m+ along the western and southern side walls. The foundations of the market building were also partially exposed in some of the trenches. They consist of well-built limestone courses bonded with hard cement-like lime mortar. The foundations are stepped and extend to depths of at least 2m below the market floor level.

The demolished remains of one wall of possible medieval date were identified along the southern end wall of the market building (TP 14). The wall was north- south orientated, and its upper course was located at a depth of 1.8m below the top of the floor slab.

Some animal bone fragments were found in the rubble and clay deposits in all trenches. However, there were no loose human bone remains or in-situ burials found in any of the fruit market trenches.

The Chancery Street trenches also confirmed post-medieval building remains including red brick walls, limestone walls, 18^th-century house walls and 20^th-century building lie just below the carpark surface. These buildings, including foundations and infill deposits, extend to depths of up to 2m+ below existing ground level. Only slit trench 2 was excavated to over 2m in depth and subsoil in this trench was located at 2.2-2.4m below present ground level.

It should be noted that previous testing of this area in 2001 (IAC) identified subsoil at depths of between 3-4m below present ground level. It also recorded up to 2m of medieval deposits (above the subsoil i.e., the top of the medieval deposits was at c. 2m below Present Ground Level). This layer may contain medieval artefacts. The development in this area requires the construction of a below-ground attenuation tank to at least 2m in depth below present ground level.

The daisy market trenches also confirmed the presence of post-medieval building remains to at least 2m in depth below present ground level. It seems that most of the area along the Arran Street East frontage has deep red brick basements and stone house basement walls. The red brick basement revealed in ST 10 had part of a brick vaulted roof surviving at depth of c.0.4m below present ground level. The cellars/basement areas are probably at least 4-5m in length (east-west).

The most significant wall in this area was revealed in ST 9. The wall section revealed was located at c.0.4m below present ground level, c.5m in length north-south (& up to at least 12m long – ST 9A) and was a full width of 0.45m by at least 1.5m in height. The evidence suggests that this wall dates to the post-medieval period – at least early 18^th century.  It should be noted that the construction level of the wall was not reached, and the 18^th-century date applies the upper level exposed during the testing. As this wall is listed as a possible precinct wall of St Mary's Abbey and thus a recorded monument, further investigation is required.

In conclusion (based on the current development plans) there is likely to be significant impact to below-ground deposits and structures identified in the Daisy Market and Chancery Street carpark areas. The main impact in these areas will be the construction of the large below-ground attenuation tanks. The insertion of services including manholes, ducting, plant rooms, strip foundations/pads and piling will also cause impacts.

In advance of the main site construction programme archaeological resolution of the areas will be required.

Finally, the Fruit & vegetable market site lies just across the road (Arran Street east) or c.20m to the west of the church and graveyard of St Mary's Abbey, the remains of which were found during excavations in 2022 . The Abbey, founded in 1139, was one the largest and most important ecclesiastical sites in Ireland.

While no human bones or burials were found during the site testing it should be noted that there is a high probability that burials may survive across the site. If present, burials may be located at depths of between 1.5m to 2m below present ground level. The Daisy Market area has high potential for both burials and medieval wall remains. The fruit market has also high potential for burials, particularly along the eastern side and middle areas of the market building where deep post-medieval basements were not constructed. Burials were also found during road works on St Michan's Street in 1934 and on Chancery Street in 1966  - therefore the burials may survive in pockets across an extensive part of the overall area.

ACAS 45 Richmond Park, Monkstown, Co Dublin