County: Kilkenny Site name: Hebron House, Blanchfieldsland
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 23E0802
Author: Michael Greiner & Seán Shanahan
Site type: Protected structure
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 652553m, N 656540m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.657498, -7.223216
Archaeological test-excavations as part of an Archaeological Impact Assessment were carried out in September 2003 on a 7.3-hectare site in Blanchfieldsland townland, on the eastern edge of Kilkenny City. The site incorporates the derelict remains of Hebron House, a Protected Structure (RPS: B39 / NIAH: 12401910 & 12401923), and the proposed development will comprise a hotel, leisure and conference complex, incorporating the refurbishment and change of use of Hebron House.
Prior to testing the site was subjected to a geophysical survey carried out in August 2023 by Shanarc Archaeology Ltd. under Prospection Licence No. 23R0361. The geophysical survey produced multiple potential archaeological anomalies, primarily in the form of potential pits and/or hearth-type features, and the subsequent test-trenches were principally targeted on the identified anomalies.
Test excavations comprised the excavation of twenty-two test-trenches. Initially thirty trenches had been planned, however following consultation with the client it was agreed, at the time of testing, that eight of these trenches were located in areas outside of the currently proposed development footprint in areas where no development-related groundworks were to take place. As a result, it was agreed that these eight test-trenches (Trenches 19–25 & 30) were not necessary at this time.
The primary stratigraphy was relatively consistent through most of the trenches, comprising 0.3–0.4m of mid-brown topsoil overlying lighter brown stony and silty clay, overlying yellow-brown to grey natural with occasional pockets of gravel or sand.
Test trenches were 1.8m in width, 0.4-1.3m in depth, and varied in length from 20–90m. The majority of the excavated trenches showed no evidence of archaeological activity. Out of the twenty-two excavated test-trenches, four (Trenches 3, 12, 13 & 18) produced evidence of potential archaeological activity in the form of charcoal spreads and/or hearth-type features; given that there was substantial surface evidence of modern burning across the site it is possible that some or all of these features may relate to modern activity.
As no dateable finds were associated with any of the four identified features, and as none of the features were fully excavated, their provenance and archaeological significance remain unclear.
Unit 39A, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny
