2024:493 - Broomfield West, Knockgriffin (Imokilly), Townparks, Glebe, Park North, Killeagh, Garryduff, Oatencake, Castleredmond, and Coppingerstown, Cork

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken of ground investigation (GI) works associated with the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme, Co. Cork.

The GI works which required archaeological monitoring comprised 15 boreholes, 2 dynamic probes, 3 foundation pits (FIP), and 30 trial pits. In addition, the logs for 2 dynamic probes were submitted for review by the monitoring archaeologist. An additional 10 FIPs were added while works were underway.

Cultural Heritage (CH) features were encountered in 13 of the GI works locations, with the majority of these being quay walls intentionally targeted by the FIPs. In addition, a possible sluice and a stone culvert were identified, which were both associated with post-medieval industrial activity in Midleton. Both were associated with a former mill complex (CO076-112).

The possible sluice was a stone encountered in a borehole at a depth of 0.5m. While no edges were visible, the borehole was within the walls of a sluice visible on both the 1845 OS 6 inch map and the 1899 OS 25 inch map. Upstanding stone wall remains, likely associated with the sluice were visible to the northeast and southwest.

The culvert was to the south of the mill complex. It was identified at a depth of 0.4-0.72m. Its stone arch was collapsed with a cavity visible beneath it. The culvert runs north-north-east/south-south-west. It had been impacted by a stone wall to the west, and levelling works for a car park above it.

A flagstone path and stone wall were also encountered in a location which did not require archaeological monitoring: TP6-12. The stone wall was encountered at a depth of 0.65m, running parallel to the Dungourney River, which lie further to the northwest. It was 0.35m wide, and ran roughly north-east/south-west. The flagstones were located to the southeast of the stone wall, at a depth of 0.9m. An area 1m wide (north-east/south-west) x 1.1m long of the flagstone surface was uncovered in the trench. It is likely that the stone wall acted as kerbing for the flagstone surface, though it may have been an older river retaining wall.

A total of 34 finds were recorded across another 8 GI works locations, with no overlap with the CH features. These finds all represent post-medieval/modern material. The CH features and finds are all reflective of Midleton's strong industrial heritage.