House - 16th century

The National Monuments Service's description

Ground disturbance works for the Portlaoise and Fort Protector Enhancement Project Phase II at Church Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois was archaeologically monitored under licence No. 18E0339 by Colm Flynn. The results of the monitoring were summarised as following; ‘It was proposed to construct lighting pillars intermittently along Church Street. To facilitate this, slit trenches were excavated at the location of the lighting pillars, to allow tie-in with the main ESB cable. Two stone walls and a ditch were identified in the first slit trench which is just NW of the corner tower of Fort Protector (LA013-041001-). The walls are 0.2m below existing road level, and are related and form the corner of a building that would have continued northwards. The walls survive as two-course high limestone rubble constructions, with lime mortar bonding. Wall 1 is 0.45m wide (18 inches) and 0.55m high, and appears to continue to the north beyond the limit of works, under the existing roadway. Wall 2 is orientated roughly E x W, and is parallel to the northern wall of Fort Protector, approximately 3.6m from the fort’s wall. There is a grey gravel-rich deposit under the walls (0.12m deep) and this appears to be a foundation or bedding deposit. Possible original natural subsoil is visible below the grey gravel-rich deposit. These walls likely relate to a building that could be contemporary with Fort Protector, and date to the 16th century. A ditch cutting was also identified at the location of the walls. The ditch was identified in section, and extends from the southern edge of Wall 2 for 3.6m to the walls of Fort Protector. The ditch was likely an external ditch around the outer wall of Fort Protector (LA013-041001-) and could date to the 16th century. Although only identified in one slit trench, the ditch appears to be orientated E x W, parallel to the Fort walls. The works in this area are 1m below existing ground level, and the ditch appears to be deeper than this. The walls outlined above are constructed on the upper break of slope of the ditch. Following discussions on site, Laois Co. Co. will ensure that the works do not impact on the walls (and possible building floor that has not been identified), which will be preserved in situ under geotextile’ (Flynn 2021).

See attached images provided courtesy of Colm Flynn

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 28 October 2021

References

Flynn, C. 2021 Portlaoise and Fort Protector Enhancement Project Archaeological Licence No: 18E0339. Update on Archaeological Monitoring Oct. 2021. Unpublished report submitted to National Monuments Service.