2024:827 - Little Michael Street, Waterford, Waterford

A programme of Archaeological Monitoring was undertaken of required excavations associated with the retirement of an existing Unit Substation, located in a private rear yard area, and the installation of a new replacement unit to the north-north-east of existing, the installation of two new Mini-Pillars along the southern side of Little Michael Street and a new standard to the west of existing; all elements of the works were linked by new underground cables installed in ducting.

The subject works were located within the RMP Zone and SMR Zone of Notification established for Waterford City (SMR No: WA009-005); in particular a 16^th/17^th-Century House (WA009-005039) is located to the immediate west of the works area; WA009-005003 – Gatehouse (St Martin’s Gate) with associated lines of Town Wall Defences (WA00900502) is located to the northeast and north and WA009-005025 (Church) and WA009-005075 (Graveyard) to the northwest.

Notification of the works was submitted by ESB Networks to the National Monuments Service, as required under Section 12(3) of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, who advised that all associated excavations be monitored by an archaeologist and under licence to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

In general, the excavations revealed layers of rubble fill or clays containing stone and brick. No subsurface features of archaeological interest/potential were uncovered by the works, apart from an organic clay layer at the base of the lighting standard foundation pit, which is considered to be of archaeological potential and may be of medieval origin. In addition, a short section of truncated wall, of nineteenth-century date, was uncovered immediately outside a boundary wall on the southern side of the street. All spoil material was ‘raked-over’ in order to increase the chances of artefact recovery but nothing of interest was recovered.