2024:657 - 146–156 Harold's Cross Road, Dublin 6W, Dublin

Archaeological test-trenching and monitoring of Site Investigation (SI) works were carried out at Nos 146–156 Harold’s Cross Road, Dublin 6W. The testing works were carried out in two phases (Phase 1 and 2) in tandem with the phased clearance and demolition works at the site. The findings informed an Archaeological Impact Assessment that recommended the preservation by record to formation level of all archaeological remains identified.

The site lies within the Zone of Notification (ZoN) of a site listed on the Record of Monument and Places (RMP), (DU018-050; Historic settlement – Harold’s Cross). Three other Recorded Monuments are located to the immediate east of the site within Harold’s Cross Park: a maypole (DU018-050001-), a water mill – unclassified (DU018-050002-) and a gallows (DU018-050004-), whilst a watercourse (DU018-043004) representing the old course of the River Poddle is located to the immediate west. The site contains a Protected Structure (PS), No. 152 Harold’s Cross Road, listed on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS No. 8899) as an “early eighteenth century, three-storey” building dating to c.1740. This building was subject to additional conservation planning conditions and the Design Team included a Conservation Architect to ensure the building would be protected and preserved during the proposed construction works.

Phase 1 works comprised seven trenches (T1–T7) and were undertaken over nine days in June 2024. Phase 2 works comprised three trenches (T8–T10) and were undertaken over four days in September 2024. Additional licenced monitoring of SI works at the site was undertaken over one day in September 2024.

Prior to the Dublin City Council (DCC) approved Phase 1 demolition works (i.e. No. 154 and 156), a photographic record of the extant buildings was compiled. No medieval structural material was found to be present within or incorporated into the building fabric. Drawings and record photography of the Phase 2 area were compiled and submitted to DCC by the Project Managing Architect, prior to approval of demolition by DCC of building Nos 146, 148/150 and notably the gable wall of No. 150 against which PS No. 152 was constructed.

The Phase 1 testing works (T1–T7, totalling 51.9m) were located in the southern half of the site formerly occupied by plot Nos 154 and 156 and to the rear of the PS at No. 152. The Phase 2 works (T8–T10, totalling 36.5m) were located within the northern footprint of the site (Nos 146–150). Works in both Phases identified, investigated and recorded the foundational remains and original built fabric of the demolished buildings, established levels of historic build-up/made-ground at the site, and identified an earlier metalled surface. The testing allowed for a comprehensive record of subsurface stratigraphy to be established across the site which dated to the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The proposed development works, which included ground reduction across the site for a piling mat as well as further localised excavation works, were deemed to have a serious impact upon the in situ archaeological features that were identified during testing and located across the site. As such, it was recommended that the site be fully archaeologically excavated to the formation depth of the proposed development works.