Historic town

The National Monuments Service's description

The town of Clane appears to have developed around the site of the Early Christian monastery of 'Cluain Damh' (KD014-026017-). After the coming of the Normans, the Barony of Otyny (modern Barony of Clane) was granted to Adam de Hereford, who in turn granted it to his brother Richard, and the De Hereford's were probably responsible for the erection of the motte (KD014-026004-) at the S end of the town, near a crossing point (KD014-026008-) of the River Liffey. The town also contains a Franciscan Friary (KD014-026005-) and graveyard (KD014-026012-), and, reputedly, the hospital of St Mary Magdalene (KD014-026015-). The present street pattern is linear, with a main N-S street forking at its S end, with the SE fork heading towards the River Liffey. There are no clear burgage plot patterns and the settlement may have been abandoned before the close of the Middle Ages. The Civil Survey of 1654 noted four castles, no surface trace of which survives. (Bradley et al. 1986, vol. 2, 137-54)
In 1997, archaeological monitoring (Excavation Licence No. 97E0345) of some 2km of trenching for Bord Gáis Éireann gas pipe revealed a series of three shallow pits cut into the natural boulder clay, one of which produced a small amount of animal bone, along with 'local ware' potsherds of 13th/14th century date. A Bann flake was found 'south of the present village and north of the motte' (KD014-026004-). (www.excavations.ie)
In 2003, archaeological monitoring (Excavation Licence No. 03E1219) of a housing development at Abbeylands at the S end of the town revealed one rim-sherd of blackware, two sherds of medieval pottery and a dressed-stone interpreted as possibly a mullion from the Franciscan Friary (KD014-026005-) c. 100m to the west. (www.excavations.ie)
Also in 2003, archaeological testing (Excavation Licence No. 03E1488) at a development site located at Prosperous Road and Millicent Road resulted in 115 sherds of mostly medieval pottery being recovered from the topsoil - Leinster cooking ware, Dublin-type ware, Dublin-type fineware and Dublin-type cooking ware. The post-medieval pottery consisted of possible Merida-type, black-glazed ware, glazed red earthenware and stoneware. In addition, two clay-pipe stems and a clay-pipe bowl were also recovered. (www.excavations.ie)
Archaeological monitoring (Excavation Licence No. 03E0904) 'beside the motte' (KD014-026004-) also produced medieval pottery. (www.excavations.ie)

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011