Brickworks

The National Monuments Service's description

A group of three brick kiln clamps in a lowlying wet area immediately W of the River Fergus, excavated in 2004 (Licence no. 04E0027) in advance of the construction of the N85 Western Relief Road. Three principal areas of brick-making activity were identified, each situated directly on alluvium and sealed by a deposit of broken brick rubble and topsoil. The bricks manufactured were irregular in size, terracotta in colour and many retained surface impressions of grass. The number of kilns found suggests brick manufacturing on an industrial or commercial scale. Two of the clamps were truncated by a back drain recorded on the OS 1842 ed. of the 6-inch map indicating that the clamps are at least older than the mid 19th century. (Hull and Taylor 2005, 35-41; Taylor 2007, 34; Bermingham et al. 2012, 93-5)

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 12 July 2016

References

Bermingham, N., Hull, G., and Taylor, K. 2012 Beneath the Banner: archaeology of the M18 Ennis Bypass and N85 Western Relief Road, Co. Clare. NRA Scheme monographs 10.

Taylor, K. 2007 Site AR120, Clareabbey. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2004: summary accounts of excavations in Ireland, 34, No. 144. Dublin. Wordwell.

Hull, G. and Taylor, K. 2005 Archeology on the route of the Ennis Bypass. The Other Clare 29, 35-41.