2025:296 - Castlelost, Rochfordbridge, Westmeath

Full planning permission was granted, following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, to develop greenfield lands in Castlelost, located northwest of Rochfordbridge town centre.
Nothing of significant archaeological interest was noted in any of the six trenches investigated. Any variations noted in the subsoil were seen, following examination, to be natural, with the numerous darker patches a product of naturally occurring rotted limestone. The darker subsoil noted in the north-east corner of the site can be accounted for with an examination of the OS map of 1837. The map shows that the ground to the rear, south, side of the cottage, consisted of a small in-field, which extended some 20m to the south of the cottage. The over-deepened topsoil and darker subsoil were confined to this area and are undoubtedly the product of the in-field being the subject of localised intensive agricultural workings.
As nothing of archaeological significance was noted in the testing, it was recommended, subject to discussion with and the approval of the relevant heritage authorities, that development be allowed to proceed without the requirement of further archaeological input.