County: Westmeath Site name: Kilbixy Leper Hospital
Sites and Monuments Record No.: WM011-040001 Licence number: 21E0622 Ext.
Author: Catriona Baldwin
Site type: Leper hospital
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 632065m, N 761547m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.602788, -7.515534
Archaeological monitoring of the Phase 4 conservation works at Kilbixy Leper Hospital (RMP WH011-040001), Ballynacarrigy, Co. Westmeath took place from August to December 2024. The works follow three earlier phases of conservation works (see 2021:354 entry, N. Garahy & 2022:597, S. Deery).
The Leper Hospital is situated within the Baronstown Demesne, bordering the graveyard of St Bigseach’s Church (RMP WM011-040002). It is also located within the Zone of Archaeological Potential (ZAP) associated with the deserted medieval settlement of Kilbixy (RMP WM011-155).
A phased approach to the project was undertaken. Preliminary archaeological investigations, in the form of a single test trench across the east wall and void, informed a detailed conservation method statement.
The subsequent works included:
1. The clearance of recent non-archaeological spoil to the east (exterior) of the structure
2. Clean-up of the interior of monument, including the backfilling of the void
3. Limited masonry repairs to northern section of the east wall
The Phase 4 Conservation works are now complete. No new features, finds or deposits of archaeological significance were identified during the course of the investigations or the subsequent monitoring.
Lynwood House, Ballinteer Road, Dublin 16
