ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: PROPOSED CASHEL TOWN … · INTRODUCTION _____1 2. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT...

19E0427 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT, CASHEL TOWN PARK KILKENNY ARCHAEOLOGY SEPT 2020

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ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: PROPOSED CASHEL TOWN PARK AND PUBLIC REALM WORKS, CAMUS ROAD/ROCK LANE, ST. PATRICKSROCK (RMP TS061-025----), CASHEL, CO. TIPPERARY

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION LICENCE: 19E0427 and 19E0427 ext. CLIENT: TIPPERARY COUNTY COUNCIL, CIVIC OFFICES, CLONMEL, CO. TIPPERARY AUTHOR: CÓILÍN O'DRISCEOIL MA MIAI 17.9.2020 ________________________________ Kilkenny Archaeology 12 Parliament Street Kilkenny City P. 056 7752200 E. [email protected] W. www.kilkennyarchaeology.ie ________________________________

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.kilkennyarchaeology.ie/


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Client Tipperary County Council Document title Archaeological Assessment: Proposed Town Park, Camus Road/Rock Lane, St. Patricksrock (RMP TS061-025157-), Cashel, Co. Tipperary Document type Archaeological assessment Issue/date 17.9.2020; FINAL ITM 607370 640840 RMP reference RMP TS061-025--- Excavation Licence 19E0427 and 19E0427 ext. Archive location 12 Parliament street, Kilkenny Report author Cóilín O'Drisceoil MA MIAI Disclaimer: All recommendations are subject to the approval of the National Monuments Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the planning authority. This document has been prepared for the titled project or named part thereof and should not be relied upon or used for any other project without an independent check being carried out as to its suitability and prior written authority of Kilkenny Archaeology being obtained. Kilkenny Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability for the consequences of this document being used for a purpose other than the purposes for which it was commissioned. Any person/party using or relying on the document for such other purposes agrees, and will by such use or reliance be taken to confirm their agreement to indemnify Kilkenny Archaeology for all loss or damage resulting therefrom. Kilkenny Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability for this document to any party other than the person/party by whom it was commissioned. © Kilkenny Archaeology 2020 ---------------------------------------- CÓILÍN O'DRISCEOIL MA MIAI Managing Director 17.9.2020


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CONTENTS

FIGURES ____________________________________________________________ i

1. INTRODUCTION ____________________________________________________ 1

2. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND STATUTORY PROTECTIONS _________________ 4

2.1 The Development ________________________________________________ 4

2.2 Statutory heritage protections on the proposed development area _______ 5

2.3 Reason and statutory basis for archaeological assessment _______________ 7

3. ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ________________________________________ 10

3.1 Statutory Basis for Methodology___________________________________ 10

3.2 Assessment Components _________________________________________ 11

3.2.1 Desk-based study ____________________________________________ 11

3.2.2 Field Survey ________________________________________________ 12

3.2.3 Archaeological Test Excavation _________________________________ 12

3.2.4 Geophysical Survey __________________________________________ 13

4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ______________________ 14

4.1 Location and bedrock geology _____________________________________ 14

4.2 Historical and archaeological background ___________________________ 14

5. INVENTORY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL/ BUILT HERITAGE SITES PROPOSED

DEVELOPMENT AREA AND ENVIRONS ___________________________________ 27

6. ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEST EXCAVATIONS 19E0427 _________________________ 52

6.1 Introduction ___________________________________________________ 52

6.2 Test-Trench 1 Summary of Findings ________________________________ 61

6.2.1 Stratigraphy ________________________________________________ 61

6.3 Test-Trench 2 __________________________________________________ 62

6.4 Test-Trench 3 __________________________________________________ 75

6.5 Test-Trench 4 __________________________________________________ 81


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6.6 Finds assemblage _______________________________________________ 86

6.7 Preliminary Interpretation ________________________________________ 87

7. ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT STATEMENT ________________________________ 98

7.1 Introduction ___________________________________________________ 98

7.2 Potential Impacts on Archaeology and Recommendations for Mitigation __ 99

7.2.2 Play Space ________________________________________________ 100

7.2.3 Amphitheatre ______________________________________________ 101

7.2.5 Services __________________________________________________ 102

7.2.6 Visual Impact ______________________________________________ 103

7.3 General Archaeological Recommendations _________________________ 103

BIBLIOGRAPHY _____________________________________________________ 105

APPENDIX 1: RECORDED MONUMENTS AND PLACES ENTRIES _______________ 109

APPENDIX 2: ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR BOARDWALK REVIEW ___________ 117


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FIGURES

FIGURE 1: SITE LOCATION, OUTLINED IN RED ......................................................................................... 2

FIGURE 2: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA ON VERTICAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH

(BING MAPS) ....................................................................................................................................................... 2

FIGURE 3: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT LAYOUT PLAN (THE PAUL HOGARTH COMPANY

FOR TIPPERARY COUNTY COUNCIL) ..................................................................................................... 3

FIGURE 4: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA ON MAGNETIC GRADIOMETER SURVEY

(EARTHSOUND GEOPHYSICS 2014, FIGURE 3) ................................................................................. 15

FIGURE 5: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA (ARROWED) ON RECONSTRUCTION MAP OF

MEDIEVAL CASHEL (BRADLEY 1985, FIG. 3.3) ............................................................................... 17

FIGURE 6: APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA ON 1655

DOWN SURVEY BARONY OF MIDDLETHIRD (EXTRACT) ......................................................... 20

FIGURE 7: THE SOUTH PROSPECT OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PATRICK AND

THE ROCK IN CASHELL [SIC]. [GRAPHIC] / BY DHEULLAND, G., ENGRAVER.

PUBLISHED / CREATED: [CA. 1739?]. ................................................................................................... 20

FIGURE 8: ROCK OF CASHEL [GRAPHIC] / BY POUNCY, BENJAMIN THOMAS, D. 1799

PUBLISHED / CREATED: N.D.] “...CASHEL, ROCK OF (IRELAND)...” .................................... 21

FIGURE 9: 'ROCK OF CASHEL, COUNTY OF TIPPERARY' BY GEORGE HOLMES C. 1800

(NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND THOM 91414) ......................................................................... 21

FIGURE 10: A SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF THE ROCK OF CASHEL [GRAPHIC] /BY FORD, JAMES,

FL.1772-1812, ENGRAVER. PUBLISHED / CREATED: [1804]“...CASHEL, ROCK OF

(IRELAND)...” ................................................................................................................................................... 22

FIGURE 11: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA ON 1840 FIRST EDITION ORDNANCE

SURVEY MAP SCALE SIX INCHES TO A MILE (1:10560) SHEET 61 (EXTRACT) ............... 22

FIGURE 12: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA ON 1840 FIRST EDITION ORDNANCE

SURVEY MAP SCALE, MANUSCRIPT TOWN PLAN OF CASHEL (SCALE 1:1056)

(EXTRACT) (NATIONAL ARCHIVES IRELAND) ............................................................................. 23

FIGURE 13: CASHEL [GRAPHIC]. PUBLISHED / CREATED: [BETWEEN CA. 1850 AND 1862]

“...CASHEL...” ................................................................................................................................................... 24

FIGURE 14: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA ON 1884 OS MAP LXI.41 (EXTRACT) .............. 24

FIGURE 15: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA ON 25-INCH ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP OF

CASHEL (EXTRACT) (1892-1913) .............................................................................................................. 25

FIGURE 16: MAP OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND BUILT HERITAGE ELEMENTS WITHIN AND

ADJOINING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA (SEE INVENTORY, SECTION 5) .......... 26

FIGURE 17: SITE 1, MOUND, FROM THE EAST. ........................................................................................... 28

FIGURE 18: SITE 12, PATHWAY OF BOTHAR NA MARBH RUNNING ALONG THE WEST

SIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AREA, WEST OF THE BOUNDARY WALL 21. FROM

THE SOUTH. ..................................................................................................................................................... 31


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FIGURE 19: SITE 12, PATHWAY OF BOTHAR NA MARBH RUNNING ALONG THE NORTH

SIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AREA, NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY WALL 21. FROM

THE EAST. ........................................................................................................................................................ 31

FIGURE 20: THE SOUTH ENTRANCE TO BOTHAR NA MARBH GATEWAY (SITE 13) AND

ADJOINING GATEWAY (SITE 29), FROM SOUTHWEST. ............................................................... 32

FIGURE 21: LOOKING ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE DEVELOPMENT AREA

TOWARDS ST. PATRICK'S ROCK WITH THE GATEWAY SITE 14 SHOWN IN THE WALL

SITE 21, FROM SOUTH-EAST. .................................................................................................................... 33

FIGURE 22: SITE 15 THE BISHOP'S WALK, FROM THE NORTH. ........................................................... 34

FIGURE 23: SITE 15, THE BISHOP'S WALK, FROM THE SOUTHWEST. .............................................. 34

FIGURE 24: SITE 16, STEPS IN THE BISHOP'S WALK AT THE NORTH SIDE OF THE

CROSSING OF THE BISHOP'S WALK AND THE EAST-WEST LANE 41, FROM SOUTH. . 35

FIGURE 25: THE DOOR/GATEWAY (SITE 18) IN THE NORTH WALL OF THE BISHOP'S

PALACE GARDEN, FROM THE NORTH-WEST. ............................................................................... 36

FIGURE 26: GATEWAY SITE 19 AND BLOCKED DOOR/GATEWAY SITE 32 IN THE

SOUTHERN BOUNDARY WALLS, FROM NORTH. ........................................................................... 37

FIGURE 27: BOUNDARY WALL SITE 22 AT THE NORTH-EAST BOUNDARY OF THE

DEVELOPMENT AREA, FROM SOUTHWEST. .................................................................................. 38

FIGURE 28: NORTH-EAST CORNER OF THE BOUNDARY WALL, SITE 25. THE RUBBLE IN

THE FOREGROUND MAY BE THE REMAINS OF THE DEMOLISHED WALL SITE 23.

TAKEN FROM THE NORTH-EAST. ......................................................................................................... 39

FIGURE 29: WEST END OF SOUTHERN BOUNDARY WALL, SITE 25, FROM THE NORTH. .... 39

FIGURE 30: STAMPED MAKER'S MARK IN THE IRON GATE BARRING GATEWAY, SITE 29.

................................................................................................................................................................................ 41

FIGURE 31: DOORWAY/GATEWAY, SITE 33, AT WEST END OF WALL, SITE 24, FROM

NORTH-WEST. ................................................................................................................................................. 42

FIGURE 32: GATEWAY, SITE 34, IN THE NORTH-EAST WALL OF THE BISHOP'S PALACE

GARDEN, FROM THE NORTH.................................................................................................................. 42

FIGURE 33: WEST FIELD, SITE 36, OF THE DEVELOPMENT AREA, FROM THE

SOUTHWEST. THE MOUND, SITE 1, IS SHOWN IN THE CENTRE. .......................................... 43

FIGURE 34: EAST FIELD, SITE 37, OF DEVELOPMENT AREA, FROM THE SOUTHWEST.

LOOKING NORTH TOWARDS ST. PATRICK'S ROCK. ....................................................................... 43

FIGURE 35: POSSIBLE BARROW, SITE 39, INDICATED BY A PRONOUNCED CURVED

EARTHWORK AT THE MID POINT OF THE BISHOP'S WALK, FROM NORTH-WEST. ...... 46

FIGURE 36: FORMER GATEWAY, SITE 40, AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE EAST-WEST LANE,

SITE 41, FROM THE SOUTH-EAST. ......................................................................................................... 46

FIGURE 37: ROUNDED SOUTHERN PILLAR OF GATEWAY, SITE 29, AT THE NORTH END

OF WALL, SITE 44, FROM THE WEST. .................................................................................................. 47

FIGURE 38: PLAN OF TRENCHES 3, 4, 5, 6 ROCK ROAD AND ROCK OF CASHEL (POLLOCK

2016) ...................................................................................................................................................................... 49


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FIGURE 39: LOCATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEST TRENCHES 1-4, 19E0427 ON SITE

LOCATION MAP ............................................................................................................................................. 53

FIGURE 40: LOCATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEST TRENCHES 1-4, 19E0427 ON

MAGNETIC GRADIOMETER DATA (EARTHSOUND GEOPHYSICS 2014, FIG. 3) .............. 54

FIGURE 41: LOCATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEST TRENCHES 1-4, 19E0427 ON IN-PHASE

DATA LEVEL 1 (EARTHSOUND GEOPHYSICS 2014, FIG. 5) ...................................................... 55

FIGURE 42: TEST TRENCH 1, 19E0427, WEST-FACING SECTION (TOP), MID-EXCAVATION

(MIDDLE) AND FINAL (BOTTOM) EXCAVATION PLANS. ......................................................... 56

FIGURE 43: EXCAVATION TRENCH 1, 19E0427, FROM SOUTH, PUTATIVE RING BARROW

TOP LEFT. .......................................................................................................................................................... 57

FIGURE 44: TEST TRENCH 1, 19E0427, UNCOVERING METALLED SURFACE [0363] SEALED

UNDERNEATH BANK [013], [014], FROM NORTH. .......................................................................... 58

FIGURE 45: TEST-TRENCH 1, 19E427 EXCAVATIONS UNDERWAY 16TH JULY 2019, FROM

SOUTH. ................................................................................................................................................................ 59

FIGURE 46: 19E427, TEST TRENCH 1, HOUSE 2, FROM SOUTH. ........................................................... 59

FIGURE 47: TEST TRENCH 1, 19E427, METALLED SURFACE [036] UNDER BANK [013], [014],

AND DITCH [017], FROM NORTH-WEST. ............................................................................................. 60

FIGURE 48: TEST TRENCH 1, 19E427, CLAY BANK [ 014] AND LOOSE STONE [013], FROM

NORTH-WEST .................................................................................................................................................. 60

FIGURE 49: PLAN OF 19E427 TEST-TRENCH 2 ............................................................................................ 64

FIGURE 50: NORTH-EAST FACING SECTION OF 19E427 TEST-TRENCH 2 ..................................... 65

FIGURE 51: VERTICAL AERIAL SHOT OF 19E427 TEST-TRENCH 2. THE RANGING RODS

ARE ALIGNED ON THE DITCH [207]. .................................................................................................. 66

FIGURE 52: 19E427 TEST-TRENCH 2, FROM THE NORTH-WEST, SHOWING LINE OF DITCH

[207]. ..................................................................................................................................................................... 67

FIGURE 53: 19E427 TEST-TRENCH 2, THE PARTIALLY EXCAVATED STONE FILL PIT [205]

TRUNCATING THE FILLS OF THE DITCH [207], FROM THE EAST. ....................................... 68

FIGURE 54: 19E427 TEST-TRENCH 2, SONDAGE AT THE BASE OF EXCAVATION FROM

THE SOUTH-EAST, SHOWING THE EXPOSED BEDROCK, FILLS OF THE DITCH [207]

AND THE LATER STONE FILLED PIT [205]. ..................................................................................... 68

FIGURE 55: 19E427 TEST-TRENCH 3, PLAN. ................................................................................................. 70

FIGURE 56: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 3, SECTIONS SONDAGES THROUGH POSSIBLE CORN-

DRYING KILNS. ............................................................................................................................................... 71

FIGURE 57: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 3, VERTICAL AERIAL PHOTO. .................................................. 72

FIGURE 58: 196E427, TEST-TRENCH 3 UNDER EXCAVATION FROM THE NORTH-WEST. .... 73

FIGURE 59: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 2, PIT [311], POSSIBLE KILN [307] AND BOUNDARY [305]

TRUNCATING THE DITCH [303]/[323] IN TEST-TRENCH 3, FROM THE SOUTH-EAST. . 73

FIGURE 60: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 3, POSSIBLE KILN [315] IN STRUCTURE [313]/[317]. .......... 74

FIGURE 61: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 3, SONDAGE EXCAVATED INTO POSSIBLE KILN [307],

FROM THE WEST. .......................................................................................................................................... 74


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FIGURE 62: 19E427, SONDAGE EXCAVATED INTO POSSIBLE KILN [315], FROM THE

NORTH. ............................................................................................................................................................... 75

FIGURE 63: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 4, PLAN. ................................................................................................ 77

FIGURE 64: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 4, NORTH FACING SECTION ....................................................... 78

FIGURE 65: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 4, VERTICAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH. ................................... 78

FIGURE 66: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 4, DITCHES [403] AND [407], AND GULLY [418] IN THE

FOREGROUND, FROM THE EAST. ......................................................................................................... 79

FIGURE 67: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 4, BANK DEPOSITS [420], [415], [416], [414] AND [417],

WITH STONE DITCH FILL [408] IN THE FOREGROUND, FROM THE EAST. ...................... 79

FIGURE 68: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 4, SLIPPAGE [409] AGAINST THE WEST SIDE OF THE

BANK WITH THE DITCHES [410] AND [412] IN THE FOREGROUND, FROM THE WEST.

................................................................................................................................................................................ 80

FIGURE 69: 19E427, TEST-TRENCH 4, GRAVEL PATH [406] ON TOP OF THE BANK, FROM

NORTH. ............................................................................................................................................................... 80

FIGURE 70: MEDIEVAL STYLUS/PARCHMENT PRICKER. .................................................................... 83

FIGURE 71: CLASS 11 STICK PIN 19E427:18:24, 12TH-EARLY 13TH CENTURY. .............................. 84

FIGURE 72: RING-BROOCH 19E427:001:37........................................................................................................ 84

FIGURE 73: MEDIEVAL RING BROOCH AND SILVER SHOE BUCKLE. ........................................... 84

FIGURE 74: COPPER ALLOY DECORATED TRIGGER GUARD, 18TH-19TH CENTURY. ............ 85

FIGURE 75: 16TH CENTURY ANTWERP COIN WEIGHT.......................................................................... 85

FIGURE 76: PROPOSED TOWN PARK DEVELOPMENT OVERLAIN ON MAP OF

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND BUILT HERITAGE SITES (INVENTORISED IN SECTION 5). 88

FIGURE 77: POTENTIAL AREAS OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT REQUIRING SUB-

SURFACE EXCAVATION. NOTE ONLY THE NORTH-EAST COMMENCEMENT OF THE

BOARDWALK REQUIRES SUB-SURFACE FOOTINGS (PAUL HOGARTH COMPANY). .... 89

FIGURE 78: PROPOSED LAYOUT PLAN OF TIMBER BOARDWALK (PAUL HOGARTH

COMPANY) ........................................................................................................................................................ 90

FIGURE 79: PROPOSED TYPICAL ENGINEERING DESIGNS FOR BOARDWALK (OSCS

ENGINEERS) .................................................................................................................................................... 91

FIGURE 80: PROPOSED BOARDWALK, STRUCTURAL SCHEME (OCSC) ........................................... 92

FIGURE 81: PROPOSED ENGINEERING DESIGN NORTH-EAST COMMENCEMENT OF

TIMBER BOARDWALK (OSCS ENGINEERS) ....................................................................................... 93

FIGURE 82: PROPOSED FOUNDATION PAD FOR NORTH-EAST SECTION OF BOARDWALK

(OCSC ENGINEERS) ...................................................................................................................................... 94

FIGURE 83: HEDGE PLANTING PROPOSAL FOR CHILDRENS' MAZE AND PICNIC AREA

(PAUL HOGARTH COMPANY).................................................................................................................. 95

FIGURE 84: REINFORCED GRASS PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION (PAUL HOGARTH

COMPANY) ........................................................................................................................................................ 96

FIGURE 85: PROPOSED LIGHTING STRATEGY AND PROPOSED LIGHTING SCHEDULE

(PAUL HOGARTH COMPANY).................................................................................................................. 97


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1. INTRODUCTION

This report details the results of an archaeological assessment of a proposal by Tipperary

County Council to develop a town park and undertake public realm works on the north

side of the town of Cashel, 75m south of the Rock of Cashel (Figures 1, 2). This

assessment includes the outcome of a desk study, two phases of test-excavations and a

geophysical survey and follows on from recommendations made in a 2019 archaeological

assessment of the proposed development by the author (Ó Drisceoil 2019). The

proposed 3.2 hectare development area is a walled field, currently in pasture, located

between the Town Wall of Cashel (TS061-025023-) and the eighteenth century former

palace of the archbishops of Cashel (RMP TS061-025011-), and the early medieval royal

centre and ecclesiastical settlement known as the Rock of Cashel (TS061-025001- etc;

National Monument ref. 128) (Figure 1). The site also lies within the general Zone of

Archaeological Protection for the town of Cashel (RMP TS061-025---) and incorporates

a possible barrow mound (RMP TS061-025157-) and a range of potential archaeological

features which were identified in the geophysical survey. In addition, two phases of

archaeological test-excavations have brought to light evidence for late-twelfth -

fourteenth century settlement in the western and eastern parts of the proposed

development area, and a section of a large, possibly early medieval, enclosure ditch that

was backfilled after the thirteenth-fourteenth century.


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Figure 1: Site location, outlined in red

Figure 2: Proposed development area on vertical aerial photograph (Bing Maps)

This report begins by describing the development proposals and the statutory heritage

protections that apply to the development area. This is followed by an overview of the

methodology that was followed in the compilation of the report. An historical and

archaeological account of the development area and its immediate environs follows and

this is followed by a detailed inventory of the archaeological and built heritage of the

subject site and its surrounds. Preliminary accounts of the outcomes of the excavation of

archaeological test trenches within the site precedes a detailed Archaeological Impact

Statement and recommendations for further mitigation of potential impacts on

archaeology.


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Figure 3: Proposed development layout plan (The Paul Hogarth Company for Tipperary County Council)


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2. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND

STATUTORY PROTECTIONS

2.1 The Development

The proposed environmental improvement works for Cashel Town Park and

surrounding environs comprise (Figure 3):

Rock Car Park

a) Surface upgrade to the pedestrian, car park entrance and exit

b) Upgrade to existing seating

c) 8 no. bike stands

d) Upgrade to existing litter bins

e) Rationalisation and selected repositioning of signage and visitor information boards

f) Interpretation 3D map feature

g) Landscaping

Rock Lane

h) Footpath rationalisation upgrade

i) Top-coat resurfacing to the applicable section of Rock Lane

j) Lighting

Rock of Cashel access road

k) Resurfacing to create a shared surface public realm

l) Upgrade of street furniture

m) Improved pedestrian access and gates to Bothar na Marbh and Bishop’s Walk

Bishops Walk and meadow landscape

(n) Creation of a new hardwood timber pedestrian walkway providing disability access

compliant level route from the Rock to the new town centre carpark

(o) The historic Bishop’s Walk will be protected and restored

(p) The introduction of reinforced grass path

(q) Ground recessed light fittings to the main paths

(r) Landscaping

(s) The introduction of natural play elements


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(t) Timber amphitheatre seating to provide a gathering space for small

events, outdoor educational classes

u) Interpretation points positioned along the timber walkway

v) Sensitive repair works to historic walls where required

w) Stock proof fencing proposed to the new boundary line to the south

of the maze

x) Gate incorporating interpretation

y) Maze planted with deciduous hedging

Camus Road Access

z) Resurfacing to site entrance.

aa) Upgrade to existing metal entrance gates to both Bothar na Marbh

and into the Pastoral Field

bb) Provision of bike stands

cc) Provision of litter bin, wayfinder sign, interpretation board

dd) Area of planting at Camus Road Entrance

Bothar na Marbh

ee) Footpath resurfacing

ff) Introduction of 2 no. viewpoints with seating incorporated.

gg) Sensitive repair works to historic walls where required

And ancillary, associated works.

2.2 Statutory heritage protections on the proposed

development area

The proposed 3.2 hectare development area lies within the Zone of Archaeological

Protection for the town of Cashel RMP TS061-025--- and incorporates a possible barrow

mound RMP TS061-025157- (Figure 16). The Rock of Cashel, a National Monument in

the ownership of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (National

Monument ref. 128), incorporating sixty individual Recorded Monuments, is located 75m

to the north of the proposed development area: TS061-025001-Chapel, TS061-025002-

Round tower, TS061-025003- Cathedral, TS061-025004- Castle - tower house, TS061-

025005-College, TS061-025006-Cross - High cross, TS061-025024-Sheela-na-gig, TS061-

025026-Enclosure, TS061-025027-Gatehouse, TS061-025028-Church, TS061-025029-

Church, TS061-025046-Graveyard, TS061-025061-Sarcophagus, TS061-025062-Cross -


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High cross, TS061-025077- Sarcophagus, TS061-025079-Graveslab (present location),

TS061-025080-Tomb - effigial (present location), TS061-025105-Tomb - chest tomb

(present location), TS061-025107-Tomb - effigial, TS061-025112-Wall monument,

TS061-025113-Wall monument, TS061-025114-Wall monument, TS061-025115-

Graveslab, TS061-025116- Graveslab, TS061-025117-Graveslab, TS061-025118-

Graveslab, TS061-025119-Graveslab, TS061-025120-Graveslab, TS061-025121-

Graveslab, TS061-025122-Graveslab,TS061-025123-Graveslab, TS061-025124-





Graveslab, TS061-025137-Graveslab, TS061-025138-Graveslab, TS061-025139-

Graveslab, TS061-025140-Graveslab, TS061-025141-Wall monument - effigial, TS061-

025142-Wall monument, TS061-025143- Wall monument, TS061-025144-Wall

monument, TS061-025145-Wall monument, TS061-025146-Tomb - chest tomb, TS061-

025147-Tomb - effigial, TS061-025148-Tomb-chest tomb, TS061-025149-Tomb -

effigial, TS061-025150-Tomb - chest tomb, TS061-025151- Tomb-effigial, TS061-

025153-Graveslab, TS061-025156-Graveslab. The subject site lies 120m outside the

Town Wall of Cashel RMP TS061-025023- and is 180m from the former Bishop's Palace

RMP TS061-025011- of the Church of Ireland diocese of Cashel. 450m to the west is the

Cistercian Hore Abbey TS061-024----, a national monument in the ownership of the

minster for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (ref. 127). The Record of Monuments

and Places is a statutory list of all known archaeological monuments provided for in the

National Monuments Acts. There are over 120,000 Recorded Monuments included in

the RMP. The RMP consists of a published county-by-county set of Ordnance Survey

maps on which monuments are marked by a circle and an accompanying book which

specifies the type of monuments - it should be borne in mind that the circle does not

necessarily define the extent of the site or monument. Where any works are proposed

that might impinge on a RMP site the National Monuments section of the Department

of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht must be consulted at least four weeks in advance.

Likewise, the Minister for the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is also

a prescribed body under Article 15 of the Planning and Development regulations 2001

and planning applications with potential archaeological impacts are generally referred to

its Development Applications Unit.


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The proposed development area does not contain any structures which are included in

the Record of Protected Structures in the Cashel Town Development Plan 2009-15 but it

could be considered to form part of the curtilage of the St Patrick's Rock protected

structure (RPS ref. 1) and the curtilage of the Cashel Palace Hotel protected structure

(RPS ref. 8), as defined in the Architectural Heritage Protection, Guidelines for Planning

Authorities 2011, 191-2. The subject site is situated 200m to the north of the Cashel

Architectural Conservation Area, as defined in the Cashel Town Development Plan

2009-15, Map 3).

2.3 Reason and statutory basis for archaeological assessment

This report was commissioned by the Paul Hogarth Company on behalf of Tipperary

County Council, in support of a Part VIII planning permission for the development. The

author is a member of the project design team. Test excavations undertaken June 2020

are the outcome of recommendations made in the 2019 archaeological assessment report

(Ó Drisceoil 2019).

The Recorded Monuments within and in the environs of the proposed development area

(see above) are afforded statutory protection in the Record of Monuments and Places,

established under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994:

12.—(1) The Commissioners shall establish and maintain a record of monuments and

places where they believe there are monuments and the record shall be comprised of a

list of monuments and such places and a map or maps showing each monument and

such place in respect of each county in the State.

(2) The Commissioners shall cause to be exhibited in a prescribed manner in each county

the list and map or maps of that county drawn up under subsection (1) of this section

and shall publish in a prescribed manner information about when and where the lists and

maps may be consulted.

(3) When the owner or occupier (not being the Commissioners) of a monument or place

which has been recorded under subsection (1) of this section or any person proposes to

carry out, or to cause or permit the carrying out of, any work at or in relation to such

monument or place, he shall give notice in writing of his proposal to carry out the work

to the Commissioners and shall not, except in the case of urgent necessity and with the


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consent of the Commissioners, commence the work for a period of two months after

having given the notice.

(4) In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under this section

by the Minister.

Section 3.6.2 of the document Frameworks and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological

Heritage (DoEHLG 1999) sets out the criteria for archaeological assessment as follows:

'Where it is considered that a proposed development may (due to its location, size, or

nature) have archaeological implications, then an archaeological assessment should

be carried out. Archaeological assessment as defined at 3.6.1 (i) above may be

appropriate in relation to development located within or in the vicinity of known or

suspected archaeological sites or monuments' (Frameworks and Principles for the Protection of

the Archaeological Heritage 1999, 25). Section 3.6.1 of the same document defines

archaeological as follows:

Policy ENV 3 of the Cashel Town Development Plan 2009-15 states: 'It is the policy of

the Council to safeguard sites, features and objects of archaeological interest generally

and will protect (in-situ where practicable or as a minimum, preservation by record) all

monuments included in the Record of Monuments and Places and sites, features and

objects of archaeological and historical interest generally'.

Section 4.2.1 of the Cashel Town Development Plan 2009-15 states:

'The Rock of Cashel is a National Monument (National Monument Number: 128) and a

complex of international importance. The Rock is subject to statutory protection in the

Record of Monuments and Places, established under Section 12 of the National

Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994. The Rock is currently under review for

consideration as a potential candidate for World Heritage Site status.

The Planning Authority will require a visual impact assessment of proposed

developments to determine how the proposal considers the setting of the Rock of

Cashel, where appropriate.

Policy ENV 4: The Rock of Cashel

It is the policy of the Council to:


9

(a) To promote the Rock of Cashel for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site;

(b) To consider the setting and importance of the Rock of Cashel in assessing proposals

for new development; and,

(c) To promote public access to the Rock of Cashel from the Main Street and the Town

Centre.


10

3. ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY

3.1 Statutory Basis for Methodology

The methodology used in this assessment is in accordance with the Guidelines on the

Information to be Contained in Environmental Impact Statements (E.P.A. 2002, 2003, 2017) and

the methodologies recommended in ‘Framework and Principles for the Protection of the

Archaeological Heritage’ issued by the Dept. of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands

(1999). All methodologies and recommendations conform to the legislative frameworks

of the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014 (as amended), the Heritage Act 2000 and the

European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (ratified by Ireland 1997).

Section 3.6.1 of the document Frameworks and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological

Heritage (DoEHLG 1999, 25) defines archaeological assessment as follows:

'In the present context archaeological assessment means investigation aimed at any of the

following:

(i) gaining a better understanding of a known or suspected archaeological site or

monument with particular reference to considering the implications of proposed

development for such a site or monument,

(ii) locating previously unidentified archaeological sites or monuments (or possible ones)

prior to the commencement of development works with particular reference to

considering the implications of proposed development for such sites or monuments,

(iii) considering the potential that proposed development works or longer term effects of

a development may have on elements of the archaeological heritage not identified prior

to the commencement of development works.

The assessment of architectural heritage was guided by the Architectural Heritage Protection

Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DAHG 2011).

The methodology also conforms with Section 7.5.4 of the Tipperary County

Development Plan (South Riding) as amended which contains the following policies in

relation to archaeological heritage:


11

'It is the policy of the Council to safeguard sites, features and objects of

archaeological interest, including monuments on the Sites and Monuments

Record (SMR), the Record of Monuments and Places (as established under

Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act, 1994) and

archaeological remains found within Zones of Archaeological Potential

(ZAPs) located in historic towns and other urban and rural areas. In

safeguarding such features of archaeological interest, the Council will seek to

secure the preservation (i.e. preservation in situ or in exceptional

circumstances preservation by record) and will have regard to the advice and

recommendation of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Where developments, due to their location, size or nature, may have

implications for archaeological heritage, the Council may require

archaeological assessment to be carried out. This may include for a

requirement for a detailed Visual Impact Assessment of the proposal and

how it will impact on the character or setting of adjoining archeological

features. Such developments include those that are located at or close to an

archaeological monument or site, those that are extensive in terms of area

(1/2 ha or more) or length (1 kilometre or more), those that may impact the

underwater environment and developments that require an Environmental

Impact Statement'.

3.2 Assessment Components

Accordingly, the following components are included in this archaeological assessment:

3.2.1 Desk-based study

The desk-top study employs a range of archival and documentary sources to provide an

account of the archaeological and architectural heritage of the study area, including:

Record of Monuments and Places files in the Archive Unit, Archaeological Survey of Ireland

Topographical files in National Museum of Ireland

Urban Archaeological Survey County Tipperary (Farrelly and Fitzpatrick 1993)

Historic maps of Cashel

Down Survey map, 1655-1658

Aerial photographs (Google Earth, Bing)

Excavations bulletin at www.excavations.ie


12

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) for Tipperary

RPS in the Tipperary County Development Plan

Cashel Town Walls Conservation and Management Plan (Alastair Coey Architects 2008)

Archaeological 'grey literature' reports

Historical and archaeological information from local interest groups and individuals

The full array of secondary sources utilised is contained in the bibliography.

3.2.2 Field Survey

The proposed development area was inspected following compilation of the desk study.

Each site of archaeological and architectural interest was visited, inspected and

photographed and the results described below.

3.2.3 Archaeological Test Excavation

Archaeological test excavation is defined as 'that form of archaeological excavation where

the purpose is to establish the nature and extent of archaeological deposits and features

present in a location which it is proposed to develop (though not normally to fully

investigate those deposits or features) and allow an assessment to be made of the

archaeological impact of the proposed development. It may also be referred to as

archaeological testing' (Framework and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage,

1999, Section 3.6.5). A single test trench was excavated by the author within the

proposed development area in July 2019 (excavation licence 19E0427). The work was not

specifically undertaken to assess the impact of the proposed development but rather to

assess the date and nature of anomalies identified in a geophysical survey which was

carried out of the proposed development area and the wider landscape of the Rock of

Cashel in 2014 (licence ref. 14R0034), part of the Leverhulme Trust funded project

Comparative Kingship: the early medieval kingdoms of Northern Britain and Ireland'

(grant ref. RL-2016-069) (principal investigator Dr Patrick Gleeson, Queen's University

Belfast). The second phase of archaeological test excavations (excavation licence

19E0427 ext.) was recommended in the 2019 archaeological assessment report for the

development (Ó Drisceoil 2019).


13

3.2.4 Geophysical Survey

The results of a geophysical survey which was carried out of the proposed development

area and the wider area of the Rock of Cashel in 2014 (licence ref. 14R0034) was utilised

for this assessment and the test trench excavated in Phase 1 targeted a ditch-like anomaly

which was identified in the survey (Earthsound Geophysics 2014).


14

4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL

BACKGROUND

4.1 Location and bedrock geology

The subject site is located in the barony of Middlethird, the civil parish of Cashel and the

townland of St Patricksrock on the north side of the town of Cashel (Figure 1). The

underlying bedrock geology of the site is muddy siltstone and silty mudstone of the

Kelleshin formation, below a layer of glacial boulder clay.1 The interface with the pale-

grey bedded limestone with chert that forms the platform for the monuments of the

Rock of Cashel is immediately to the north of the site. The topography of the subject site

varies but generally trends steeply downwards from north to south; the highest point is in

the north-east where it is 119.5m OD and the lowest is in the south-west at 106.55m

OD. The entirety of the development site is currently in pasture, dotted with mature park

trees, and it is walled by stone-and-lime-mortar walls of mid-late nineteenth century date.

The walls have been the subject of a visual inspection by Consarc Conservation (2019). A

serpentine raised walkway, known as the 'Bishop's Walk', traverses the eastern portion of

the site and leads to the base of the Rock (Figure 16).

4.2 Historical and archaeological background

The present townland boundary between St Patricksrock and the urban townlands of

Moor, Cashel and Loughnafina corresponds with the division with the liberties of Cashel

as depicted on the 1655 Down Survey map of the barony of Middlethird (Figure 6). This

reflects the dividing line between the lands of the archbishopric and the jurisdiction of

the town burgesses, with the proposed development area therefore almost certainly

crosslands from 1101, when it was granted by the king of Cashel, Muirchertach Ua Briain

to the church, until 1960, when it was sold, along with the Cashel Palace, to Lord

Brocket (Galloway 1992, 39). Prior to its transfer to the church by Ua Briain it

presumably formed part of the royal demesne of the Eóganachta (and later Dál Cais)

kings of Munster, who's caput was centred on the Rock from around the sixth or seventh

century AD. To date, nothing earlier than the late medieval period (1169-1550) has been

1 https://dcenr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=de7012a99d2748ea9106e7ee1b6ab8d5&scale=0 (accessed

07.10.2019)


15

definitively identified within the site, with the possible exception of a large ditch

identified in the 2020 test-excavations (see below) and a c. 15m diameter mound (RMP

TS061-025157-) that is located in the north-west, on the south-west slope of the Rock

(Figures 16, 17). Whilst it is possible the mound may be simply a post-medieval

landscaping feature, geophysical survey has identified a 20m diameter circular ditch

surrounding it, and a smaller, 8m diameter, circular ditched enclosure, to its south (Figure

4). Although further excavation would be required to date the mound and these

enclosures, their morphology suggests they are the remains of late prehistoric or early

medieval barrows. The geophysical survey also identified a 110m stretch of curving ditch

in the east of the proposed development area, which it has been suggested may form part

of a large enclosure that surrounded the royal complex on the Rock during the early

medieval period (Gleeson forthcoming) (Figures 4, 16). Excavation is, however, required to

characterise the nature and date of the enclosure.

Figure 4: Proposed development area on magnetic gradiometer survey (Earthsound Geophysics 2014,

figure 3)

The arrival of John in Ireland in 1185 advanced the Anglo-Norman colonisation of

Tipperary, and Cashel, under the archepiscopacy of Muirghes Ó hEnni (c. 1186-1206),


16

came effectively under royal protection after John confirmed on him the See in 1192-3

(Empey 1985, 76-7, 84). The borough of Cashel, which had been established by the Irish

archbishop before 1218, was subsequently the subject of a dispute between the church

and the crown after royal control was exerted over it in that year (Bradley 1985, 44-5).

Documents associated with the dispute, which was referred to Rome, allude occasionally

to the 'old town' and 'New Town of Cashel', the former probably referring to an urban

settlement that was developed at the Rock prior to the establishment of the borough -

the 'New Town' - in the lowlands 200m to the south (Bradley 1985, 45; Empey 1985, 84-

5). A V-profiled ditch, which contained John, lord of Ireland, coins, (see Section 6)

demonstrates that a large 90m (east-west) x min. 55m (north-south) ditched enclosure

identified in the geophysical survey and which surrounds the possible barrows noted

above, is of late twelfth-thirteenth century date and probably therefore formed part of

the primary Anglo-Norman settlement at the foot of the Rock. The foundation trenches

for two timber houses uncovered in the same trench may represent the remains of

dwellings within the settlement. Further indications of this settlement have been found in

the 2020 test-excavation campaign.

Test excavations (licence E4750) undertaken in 2015 in advance of the redevelopment of

the former archepiscopal palace by Joanne Hughes included the excavation of four

trenches (Trenches 13, 15, 16, 17) in the walled garden enclosure immediately to the

south of the proposed development site and 45m south of the excavated test trench

(Figure 16). Whilst this report was not available to view, a synopsis and critique of it was

included in a subsequent assessment by Maurice Hurley of the same development

(Hurley 2017). In Hughes's Trenches 16-17 a series of linear features which were found

cutting the subsoil were interpreted as the remains of slots for earthfast sill-beam houses,

sealed beneath 1.2m of horticultural soils (Trenches 16, 17), which the excavator

suggested were introduced for the archbishops' gardens (Hurley 2017, 10). Whilst these

were regarded as cultivation furrows and features 'typical of ground cultivation' by

Hurley, the clear evidence for identical sill-beam structures, a ditch and other features of

late medieval date in Test Trench 1 supports Hughes's interpretation and strongly

suggests the continuation to the south of the early Anglo-Norman settlement. Another

of Hughes's trenches, Trench 13, was placed across the line of the town wall, revealing a

1.4m wide x 1.2m deep stone wall set on an off-set footing to the north (Hurley 2017, 8).


17

No indication of a fosse was present; medieval pits were identified cutting the subsoil to

the north of the wall.

Figure 5: Proposed development area (arrowed) on reconstruction map of medieval Cashel (Bradley

1985, fig. 3.3)

The establishment of a secular cathedral chapter at Cashel by Muirghes prior to his death

in 1206 would have necessitated the laying out of a Cathedral Close, complete with

manse houses for the twelve canons of the chapter (Empey 1985, 84). Nothing is known

Proposed Development Area


18

about the topography of this Close but with the construction of the Gothic cathedral on

the Rock in the mid-thirteenth century and the archepiscopal palace being nearby, the

area available for a Close would have been severely restricted up on the Rock, and it is

therefore possible that it extended into the proposed development area and perhaps, like

at Irishtown, Kilkenny, also into the surrounding borough. Following the walling of the

town in the mid thirteenth-early fourteenth century the subject site became sandwiched

between the walls, located 180m south of the site, and the Cathedral precinct at the Rock

to the north (Bradley 1985, 44) (Figure 5). Suburbs developed outside the defences but

whether any of these extended into the proposed development area is not known for

certain at present, but is suggested by the settlement features indicated by the present

test-excavations (Bradley 1985, 44).

The religious wars that followed the Reformation led to the ruination of the cathedral

and its eventual abandonment in 1749 (Galloway 1992, 37-8). The parish church of St

John the Baptist in the town was used as the Church of Ireland cathedral until 1788,

when the new Classical-style cathedral was completed on the same site (Leslie 2012, 47;

Galloway 1992, 38). Prior to the abandonment of the Rock, in 1730-2, a new

archbishop's palace had been built inside the town wall to its south, to replace the palace

which had been built at the west end of the nave of the thirteenth century cathedral

church (Moss 2014, 171). The proposed development area formed part of the demesne

of the new palace and it is possible that the so-called 'Bishop's Walk' which snakes

through the middle of the site was constructed around the same time, and would have

provided ready access from the new palace up to the Rock between c. 1732 and 1749. On

the other hand, the c. 1739 Dheulland engraving of the south prospect of the Rock does

not show the walkway and it could be a later, perhaps Victorian, feature (Figure 7). The

archaeological test excavations did not resolve this chronological issue. The Dheulland

print shows the main north-south avenue that led to the Rock from the north-east side

of the archepiscopal estate and which is marked on the first edition Ordnance Survey

map (Figure 12). This routeway, which no longer exists, would seem a more likely and

grandiose means of connecting the palace with the Rock than the 'Bishop's Walk'. The

Dheulland print also shows what appears to be formal tree-planting crossing the fields to

the south of the Rock, suggesting this area was part of the formal designed landscape of

the archepiscopal demesne (Figure 7). A late eighteenth-century print of the Rock by

Benjamin Thomas also shows the proposed development area, but in this case it is clearly


19

not accurately depicted (Figure 8). A c. 1800 print by George Holmes shows the area to

the north-east of the site occupied by cabins (Figure 9). An 1804 engraving depicts the

area to the south of the Rock as open fields, with some cultivation taking place in the

north-east corner (Figure 10). The 1846 Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland describes the

view towards the town from the Rock as benefitting greatly from the 'archiepiscopal

demesne and the city as a foreground' and an early nineteenth century visitor to the

Palace described its gardens in glowing terms: 'All that can delight the senses is here.

Parterres of lovely flowers and rare shrubs, velvet lawns; secluded walks, rich in odours;

and above the fine screen of holly and laburnum and lilac, and copper beech, and laurel,

tower the Rock and the magnificent ruins that cover it' (Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland,

1846, i, 345). The first edition Ordnance Survey map (1840) depicts the abovementioned

formal gardens of the palace directly to the south of the south wall of the proposed

development site (Figures 11, 12). The garden paths are shown meeting with the wide

avenue on the east side of the proposed development site and the 'Bishop's Walk' is also

marked. At this time the land within the proposed development site was Glebe for the

dean of Cashel, along with two further Glebes which are mentioned by Carlisle: 100

acres at Deans Grove and 11 acres at Ballycrehehan (Carlisle 1810). Following the uniting

of the diocese of Cashel and Emly to Waterford and Lismore in 1834, the last

Archbishop of Cashel, Richard Laurence, moved his seat to Waterford and four years

later the province ceased to be an archbishopric (Leslie 2012, 46-7). From thereon the

deans of Cashel resided in the Palace until the early 1950s and the building and its

grounds, including the proposed development area, was sold in 1960 and developed into

a hotel. A print dating from between c. 1850-62 shows mature trees occupying much of

the northern part of the proposed development site, which accords well with its

depiction on the 1884 Ordnance Survey map (Figures 13, 14). This map shows the area

as open parkland, with the existing stone boundary walls in place, the 'Bishop's Walk' and

a field division in the west. The long avenue shown on the first edition map in the east

has been removed, with only its east wall retained. The subsequent 1892-1913 Ordnance

Survey map shows the layout unchanged, with the exception of the western field division

having been removed (Figures 15). A 1950 oblique aerial photograph of the Rock also

includes a view over the proposed development area, which still has much of the formal

park trees that are marked on the 1884 map.


20

Figure 6: Approximate location of proposed development area on 1655 Down Survey barony of

Middlethird (extract)

Figure 7: The South Prospect of the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick and the Rock in Cashell [sic].

[graphic] / by Dheulland, G., engraver. Published / Created: [ca. 1739?].


21

Figure 8: Rock of Cashel [graphic] / by Pouncy, Benjamin Thomas, d. 1799 Published / Created:

n.d.] “...Cashel, Rock of (Ireland)...”

Figure 9: 'Rock of Cashel, County of Tipperary' by George Holmes c. 1800 (National Library of

Ireland THOM 91414)


22

Figure 10: A south-east view of the Rock of Cashel [graphic] /by Ford, James, fl.1772-1812, engraver.

Published / Created: [1804]“...Cashel, Rock of (Ireland)...”

Figure 11: Proposed development area on 1840 first edition Ordnance Survey map scale six inches to a

mile (1:10560) Sheet 61 (extract)


23

Figure 12: Proposed development area on 1840 first edition Ordnance Survey map scale, manuscript town plan of Cashel (scale 1:1056) (extract) (National Archives Ireland)


24

Figure 13: Cashel [graphic]. Published / Created: [between ca. 1850 and 1862] “...cashel...”

Figure 14: Proposed development area on 1884 OS map LXI.41 (extract)


25

Figure 15: Proposed Development Area on 25-inch Ordnance Survey map of Cashel (extract) (1892-

1913)


26

Figure 16: Map of archaeological and built heritage elements within and adjoining proposed development area (see inventory, section 5)


27

5. INVENTORY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL/ BUILT

HERITAGE SITES PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

AREA AND ENVIRONS

The following presents descriptions of each of the archaeological and built heritage

elements within and immediately adjoining the proposed development area. The location

of each feature/item is marked on Figure 16.

1. Mound

SMR TS061-025157

A circular, flat-topped c.15m diameter mound projecting from the south slope of St.

Patrick's Rock, with a tree growing in its centre (Figure 17). It is depicted as a circle on

the first edition manuscript Town Plan (1840) and as a grove of trees covering the

mound on the 1884 Ordnance Survey map (Figures 12, 14). Geophysical survey

identified a circular 20m diameter ditch enclosing the perimeter of the mound, as well as

two smaller circular enclosure ditches (Site 31) to its south, all of which is strongly

suggestive of a small ring-barrow cemetery (Figure 4). All of the features are contained

within a 90m x 53m (min.) sub-rectangular enclosure ditch (Site 11). A section excavated

across the south part of this ditch (Site 11) in 2019 determined it is of medieval date, and

therefore probably unrelated to the possible barrows (see below). What might be a fourth

barrow mound (Site 39) is incorporated into the 'Bishop's Walk' (Site 15) and the Town

Plan shows additional circular features in the south-east of the site.

2. Excavation at Gatehouse

SMR TS061-025027

An excavation carried out in 1989 by Conleth Manning immediately to the south of the

southwest corner of the hall of the Vicars choral SMR TS061-025005, prior to the

rearranging of the 19th century gateway revealed a precinct wall and gate which pre-dated

the building of the hall of the Vicars Choral between 1425 and 1440 (Manning 2019, 195)

(Figure 16). The wall of a large structure abutted the north face of the precinct wall. Part

of a wall and gateway, contemporary with the hall of the Vicars Choral, was found set

back 1.25m from the south face of the earlier precinct wall (Manning 2019, 190).


28

Figure 17: Site 1, Mound, from the east.

3. Excavation at College of the Vicar's Choral

SMR TS061-025005

Archaeological excavations carried out by Conleth Manning in 1985 and 1989 prior to

the renovation of the hall and dormitory of the Vicar's Choral of St Patrick's Cathedral,

Cashel uncovered structural evidence for the development of the building (Figure 16).

The Vicars Choral was a semi-monastic group of both clergy and laymen appointed by

the chapter of the cathedral to chant during the various church services. The hall of The

Vicars Choral was probably built by Archbishop Richard O'Hedian between 1425 and

1440, with the dormitory added within a few decades (Manning 2019, 195). A Sheela-na-

gig (TS061-025-024) is built into the south face of a quoin at the south-east corner of the

Vicar's Choral.

4. Cross

SMR TS061-025006

One of several medieval funerary monuments moved from elsewhere into storage in the

undercroft of the Vicar's Choral (TS061-025005-) (Figure 16). The RMP entry states that

the cross was 'moved in 1981 from its former position, now occupied by a replica, c. 10m


29

N of this building and c. 10m SW of the W angle of the S transept of the cathedral

(TS061-025003-)'.

5. Cross

SMR TS061-025062

One of several funerary monuments moved from elsewhere into storage in the


the 'portion of a high cross base was uncovered by the OPW in 1991 during the removal

of an 18th-century wall linking the NE angle of Cormac's chapel (TS061-025001-) and

the chancel of the Cathedral (TS061-025003-)'.

6. Graveslab

SMR TS061-025079



'it originally came from the Franciscan Friary (TS061-025008-) in the town of Cashel

where it is recorded as TS061-025151'.

7. Tomb - Effigial

SMR TS061-025080



'it originally came from the Hackett chapel of the Franciscan Friary (TS061-025008-) in

the town and when the friary was demolished it had been kept in the grounds of the

convent on the site of the friary'.

8. Chest tomb

SMR TS061-025125



it was 'formerly in the S wall of the chancel of Athassel Abbey (TS068-013----), this tomb

(see TS068-013011-) was discovered in 1946 and has subsequently been moved to the

college of the Vicars Choral (TS061-025005-) on the Rock of Cashel'.


30

9. Tomb - Effigial

SMR TS061-025147

One of several funerary monuments moved from elsewhere on St. Patrick's Rock into

storage in the undercroft of the Vicar's Choral (TS061-025005-) (Figure 16). The RMP

entry states that is was 'formerly located in the cathedral (TS061-025003-). Only three

fragments of this effigy of an archbishop survive'.

10. Sheila-na-Gig

SMR TS061-025024

A Sheila-na-Gig carved into the south face of a quoin at the south-east corner of the

Vicar's Choral (TS061-025005-) on the Rock of Cashel (Figure 16). The RMP entry states

that is 'contemporary with the building which is attributed to Archbishop Richard

O'Hedian (1406-40)'.

11. Ditch (Geophysical Survey)

90m x 53m (min.) sub-rectangular ditch identified in 2014 geophysical survey

(Earthsound Geophysics 2014, fig. 15) (Figures 4, 16). A section excavated across the

south part of the ditch in 2019 determined it had been dug into the edge of a natural

escarpment, probably in the late twelfth-early thirteenth century, and is therefore

probably unrelated to the possible barrows that it contains (see below and Site 48).

Instead it may represent an early Anglo-Norman settlement at the base of the Rock.

12. Bóthar na Marbh, historic laneway

A slightly sunken c. 270m long gravel pathway leading from Camus Road at the base of

the western slope of St Patrick's Rock to join with Rock Lane just to the south of The

Vicars Choral (Figures 16, 18, 19). The path curves around the east and north side of the

park field (Site 37) and forms its north side. A random rubble stone boundary wall (Site

21) separates it from the park fields (Sites 36 and 37). A gateway (Site 13) separates the

pathway from Camus Road. The Bishop's Walk leads through a gateway (Site 14) into the

north end of Bóthar na Marbh. The path appears on the Ordnance Survey 1840 6 inch

map and the Town Plan (Figures 11, 12). The path shown on the OS 25 inch map

extends to its current length. It is however depicted as dashed line, which probably

indicates a rough track (Figure 14).


31

Figure 18: Site 12, pathway of Bothar na Marbh running along the west side of the development area,

west of the boundary wall 21. From the south.

Figure 19: Site 12, pathway of Bothar na Marbh running along the north side of the development area,

north of the boundary wall 21. From the east.


32

13. Gateway

Modern gateway at the south end of Bóthar na Marbh formed by two concrete-bonded

stone pillars (Figures 16, 20). The western pillar has been built into the truncated earlier

stone wall (Site 38). The east side of the pedestrian gate is formed by the north pillar of

the gateway( Site 29) in the wall (Site 21). The 1884 OS map shows this wall continuing

across the pathway with a narrow pedestrian gate at the east end (Figure 14).

Figure 20: The south entrance to Bothar na Marbh gateway (Site 13) and adjoining gateway (Site 29),

from southwest.

14. Gateway

Gate or doorway with a lintel and wrought iron gate in wall (Site 21) leading from the

north end of the Bishop's Walk onto the north end of Bóthar na Marbh (Figures 16, 21).


33

Figure 21: Looking across the eastern half of the development area towards St. Patrick's Rock with the

gateway Site 14 shown in the wall Site 21, from south-east.

15. 'The Bishop's Walk', historic routeway

Sinuous raised pathway known locally as 'the Bishop's Walk' leading from a gate (Site 18)

in the north (rear) wall of the garden of the Bishop's Palace, up the south slope of St

Patrick's Rock, leading to the gate (Site 14) in wall (Site 21) at the north end of Bóthar na

Marbh (Figures 16, 22, 23). The pathway is c. 165m long and was constructed as a narrow

pedestrian way. The southern 18m of the path runs along the west face of the south

perimeter wall (Site 23). Immediately to the north of this wall, the walk is crossed by a

nineteenth century path/farm track (Site 41). The Bishop's Walk incorporates a flight of

stone and concrete steps (Site 16) c. 20m from its south end; the south retaining wall of

the steps may have formerly supported a gate (Figure 24). To the north of the steps the

walk continues as a sinuous earthwork raised above the surrounding field. The banks are

planted with trees, and it is shown as such on the first edition Ordnance Survey map

(Figures 11, 12). On the manuscript Town Plan (1840) the trees are not shown (Figure

12). What may be a mound (Site 39) associated with the possible barrows (Sites 1, 31) to

the east is incorporated into the walk, near its mid point (Figure 16). The walk is not

shown on the c. 1739 Dheulland view, which if accurate would bracket its construction to


34

between c. 1739 and 1840, when it appears on the first edition Ordnance Survey map

(Figures 7, 11). It is also clearly depicted on the 1884 Ordnance Survey map (Figure 14).

Figure 22: Site 15 The Bishop's Walk, from the north.

Figure 23: Site 15, The Bishop's Walk, from the southwest.


35

16. Steps

Flight of stone steps incorporated into the Bishop's Walk to the north of the path (Site

41) (Figures 16, 24). Four stone steps are visible, with the upper three steps being of

concrete blocks. It is not clear whether these are replacements or an addition. The base

of the steps is flanked by low retaining stone walls, which may have formerly held a gate.

The steps are not shown on the first edition, 1884 or 25-inch Ordnance Survey maps

(Figures 11, 12, 14, 15).

Figure 24: Site 16, steps in the Bishop's Walk at the north side of the crossing of the Bishop's Walk

and the east-west lane 41, from south.

17. Gateway

Cart gate, with concrete pillars inserted on both sides, crossing the pathway/farm track

(Site 41) at the east side of the Bishop's Walk (Figure 16).

18. Door/Gateway

Door or gate in the north (rear) wall (Site 24) of the archepiscopal Palace's garden, to the

east of a boundary wall (Site 23) (Figures 16, 25). The Bishop's Walk connects it to the

gate (Site 13) in the northern boundary wall of the park fields (Site 21), at the north end

of Bóthar na Marbh. The gate comprises a pedestrian gate or doorway with a flat arch


36

lintel of limestone voussoirs and a limestone threshold slab. The gate is barred by a

wrought-iron gate which is flush with the south face and has a wrought-iron 'kissing gate'

at its north side (Figure 25). The wall to its west has partially collapsed, leaving the lintel

and west jamb in danger of collapse.

Figure 25: The door/gateway (Site 18) in the north wall of the Bishop's Palace garden, from the north-

west.

19. Gateway

Gateway in southern boundary wall (Site 26) (Figure 16, 26). Barred by a modern iron

gate. The opening is 2.5m wide and is flanked by square limestone pillars. The west pillar

is not tied into the wall, whilst the east pillar is constructed against the corner of the wall

(Site 25), which forms the west jamb of another gate (Site 32). The eastern pillar may

incorporate the voussoir of a lost arch. This gateway does not appear to be that shown

on the 1884 town plan map; instead it depicts a narrower opening (Figure 14).


37

Figure 26: Gateway Site 19 and blocked door/gateway Site 32 in the southern boundary walls, from

north.

20. Gateway

A possible arched blocked gateway in the south-west boundary wall (Site 28) (Figure 16).

21. Boundary Wall

North boundary wall of proposed development area, running along the downslope side

of the Bóthar na Marbh to the south of the Rock (Figure 16). The wall is depicted on

eighteenth and early-nineteenth century prints and is also on the first edition Ordnance

Survey maps (Figures 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15). It stands to 1-1.5m in height and is of

random-rubble limestone construction, with several stretches of rebuild and patching.

The head of the wall is very irregular and there are several mature trees growing alongside

it. The ground level on the downslope side of the wall is higher than the path side and

the ground is uneven. The wall contains two gateways, one at the south end (Site 29) and

the other (Site 14) at the north.


38

22. Boundary Wall

Boundary wall at the north-east end of the proposed development area (Figures 16, 27),

formerly the east side of a wide north-south orientated avenue (Site 49) which led up to

the entrance to the Rock of Cashel, as depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey

map, and on the earlier c. 1739 Dheulland view and the c. 1804 James Ford view (Figures

7, 10, 12). The wall is of random rubble limestone construction, standing to a maximum

height of c. 1.7m. Much of it has been considerably reduced and it contains three large

breaches. A wall originally ran parallel to it in the west but this is no longer extant

(Figures 11, 12).

Figure 27: Boundary wall Site 22 at the north-east boundary of the development area, from southwest.

23. Boundary Wall (demolished)

Stone boundary wall in south of proposed development area, running north-west -

south-east from a boundary wall (Site 24) (Figure 16). This wall is depicted on the 1884

Ordnance Survey map and formerly formed part of the east side of the Bishop's Walk

(Figure 14). The wall was demolished prior to the 25-inch OS map and is now replaced

by a post and rail fence.


39

Figure 28: North-east corner of the boundary wall, Site 25. The rubble in the foreground may be the

remains of the demolished wall Site 23. Taken from the north-east.

Figure 29: West end of southern boundary wall, Site 25, from the north.


40

24. Boundary Wall

North (rear) wall of the former Bishop's Palace garden, of random-rubble limestone,

standing to a height of 2m high (Figure 16). The wall is shown dashed, possibly therefore

under construction, on the first edition 1840 Ordnance Survey map but appears to be

completed as depicted on the manuscript Town Plan (Figures 11, 12). It is also shown as

complete on the 1884 map (Figure 14). The wall contains two gates, Sites 18 and 33.

25. Boundary Wall

Boundary wall to the west of the former Bishop's Palace garden, forming the southern

boundary of the proposed development area (Figures 16, 28, 29). A stretch of the wall

appears to have been demolished and rebuilt (Site 26). The boundary wall continues to

form the west wall of the Bishop's Palace garden and the wall to its west is probably its

return. The boundary wall comprises a well-built semi-coursed limestone wall with

stressed quoins at its east and west ends (Figure 28). It stands to over 2m in height, but

has been considerably reduced in places. The wall contains a single gate (Site 32) (Figure

16). It is shown on the first edition 1840 OS 6 inch map as a dashed line, probably

indicating it was under construction at the time the area was being surveyed (Figures 11).

The wall is shown as completed on the manuscript Town Plan (Figure 12). The stretch of

wall which heads south from the wall does not appear on the first edition map but it is

on the 1884 map (Figure 14) and it may have been built as part of a reordering of the

gardens to the south. Two putlogs of joist sockets were noted in the wall.

26. Boundary Wall

A wall forming part of the south boundary of the proposed development area, possibly a

rebuild of the wall Site 25 (Figure 16). It is of random rubble limestone construction, and

contains the gateway Site 19 at its east end. This wall does not appear on the first edition

Ordnance Survey map but it is on the 1884 map (Figure 14).

27. Boundary Wall

A well-built wall of semi-coursed limestone standing to over 2m in height and forming

the south-west boundary of the proposed development area (Figure 16). It is the

southern return and continuation of the south boundary wall (Site 25). It is shown as a

dashed line on the first edition Ordnance Survey map, indicating it was under


41

construction at the time (Figure 11). The manuscript Town Plan and the 1884 map

depict it as built (Figures 12, 14).

28. Boundary Wall

Wall forming the south west boundary of the proposed development area, comprising a

random-rubble limestone wall with large patches of poured concrete (Figure 16). It is

largely overgrown and contains a gateway (Site 20) at its east end. The wall is depicted on

the first edition Ordnance Survey map (Figure 11).

Figure 30: Stamped maker's mark in the iron gate barring gateway, Site 29.

29. Gateway

Gateway forming one of the main entrances into the proposed development area, at the

south-west corner (Figures 16, 30). The gate-opening is 3.5m wide and is flanked my

mismatched pillars. The north pillar is square and built of random rubble, the south pillar

is circular and has a three-part circular capital. A construction scar is visible between the

two. The square north pillar also forms the east jamb of the current pedestrian gate (Site

13). The gate itself is of wrought iron and bears the maker's stamp ' FITZGERALD

CLONMEL' (Figure 30).


42

Figure 31: Doorway/gateway, Site 33, at west end of wall, Site 24, from north-west.

Figure 32: Gateway, Site 34, in the north-east wall of the Bishop's Palace garden, from the north.


43

Figure 33: West field, Site 36, of the development area, from the southwest. The mound, Site 1, is shown

in the centre.

Figure 34: East field, Site 37, of development area, from the southwest. Looking north towards St.

Patrick's Rock.


44

30. Possible enclosure

Large, 90m (east-west) x min. 55m (north-south), ditched enclosure identified in

geophysical survey (Figures 4, 16), which surrounds the possible barrows (Sites 1, 31) but

has been demonstrated through excavation to be of late twelfth-thirteenth century date,

and probably therefore formed part of the primary Anglo-Norman settlement at the foot

of the Rock (see below).

31. Possible enclosure

Possible ring-ditch, 6-7m diameter, identified during the geophysical survey c. 5m to the

south of the mound, Site 1 (Figures 4, 16).

32. Door/gateway

Blocked gateway/door at the north-west corner of boundary wall, Site 25 (Figure 16). It

is a pedestrian gate or doorway with a flat arch lintel of limestone voussoirs. The opening

is blocked by a random rubble limestone wall.

33. Door/gateway

A blocked gateway/door at the east end of the boundary wall (Site 24) (Figures 16, 31). It

is a pedestrian gate or doorway with a flat-arched lintel of limestone voussoirs. The

opening is in a c. 1.5m long wall face which projects c. 0.4m from the face of the wall, Site

24, and which may be part of an earlier construction. The opening is blocked by a

partially-collapsed random-rubble limestone wall. Voussoirs are missing from the lintel,

leaving the wall above in danger of collapse.

34. Gateway

Gateway in the north-east wall of the Bishop's Palace garden (Figures 16, 32). The

opening is 2.5m wide and the gateway is barred by a modern iron gate. Both the east and

west sides of the gateway have been rebuilt using concrete-bonded limestone.

35. Geophysical survey anomalies

A series of geophysical survey anomalies identified during the geophysical survey,

described below (Figures 4, 16).


45

36. Field

Sloping open pasture field on the west of the development area (Figures 16, 33).

Bounded on the north and west by boundary wall, Site 21, on the east by the Bishop's

Walk and on the south by the boundary walls 25, 26, 27 and 29. A north-south aligned

fence is shown on the OS 25 inch map, dividing the field in two (Figure 14).

37. Field

Sloping open pasture field on the east side of the development area (Figures 16, 34).

Bounded on the north by the boundary wall, Site 21, on the east by boundary wall, Site

22, on the west by the Bishop's Walk and on the south by the garden of the Bishop's

Palace. The field extends over the former laneway, Site 49, at the east.

38. Wall

Random-rubble wall which originally crossed the south end of Bothar na Marbh with a

pedestrian gate at the east end. The wall has been partially demolished and replaced by a

gateway (Site 13). The wall and pedestrian gate are shown on the 1884 town plan map

(Figure 14).

39. Possible ring-ditch or enclosure

A mound, possibly a barrow, incorporated into the banks of the Bishop's Walk (Site 15)

(Figures 16, 35). It is a circular feature, 10m - 14m in diameter, near the mid-point of the

Bishop's Walk. It is most evident at the east side of the walk, where it presents as a

pronounced curved bank. The feature is shown on the first edition OS 6-inch map

(Figure 11) and the manuscript Town Plan (Figure 12).


46

Figure 35: Possible barrow, Site 39, indicated by a pronounced curved earthwork at the mid point of the

Bishop's Walk, from north-west.

Figure 36: Former gateway, Site 40, at the south side of the east-west lane, Site 41, from the south-east.


47

40. Gateway

A gateway crossing The Bishops Walk (Site 15) at the south side of a path (Site 41)

(Figures 16, 36). Two low random rubble limestone walls flank the opening. The fence,

Site 43, ran westward from the gate, separating the paths, Sites 41 and 42.

41. Path

A path or farm-track leading from the gate (Site 34) in the north-east wall of the Bishop's

Palace garden to the gate (Site 19) in the boundary wall (Site 26) (Figure 16).

42. Path

A path which branched off the Bishop's Walk just south of the gate (Site 40) and led west

to the gate (Site 32) (Figure 16). The path is shown of the 1884 town plan map running

along the north face of the wall Site 25 (Figure 14).

Figure 37: Rounded southern pillar of gateway, Site 29, at the north end of wall, Site 44, from the west.

43. Fence

A fence separating the paths (Sites 41 and 42) north of the wall (Site 25) shown on the

1884 town plan map (Figures 14, 16).


48

44. Wall

A wall of random rubble limestone, running south from the gate (Site 29) to the south

end of Bothar na Marbh (Figures 16, 37). The round southern pillar of the gate post-dates

the wall - a construction scar is visible where the pillar was introduced.

45. Ice House

Circular ice-house, c. 5m in diameter, marked on the 1884 town plan map, 20m south of

the gate, Site 20 (Figures 13, 16). The structure itself is not shown on the 1840 OS 6-inch

map but its location is labeled 'Ice Hs' (Figure 11). It is clearly depicted as a circular

structure on the 1840 manuscript Town Plan (Figure 12). According to local information

the structure is still extant within the rear garden of a dwelling house.

46. Building

A rectangular structure marked on the 1840 Town Plan and OS 6-inch map in the south-

west of the western field (Figures 11, 12, 16). The structure is not marked on the

subsequent 1884 OS map (Figure 14). It is depicted as a rectangular building, c. 10m x

8m, and may have been associated with gardens shown on the first edition map (Figure

11).

47. Building

A small rectangular building shown on the 1840 OS 6 inch-map, fronting onto Camus

Road (Figures 11, 12, 16). The building is depicted as a 7m x 5m rectangular structure,

aligned north-east-southwest (Figure 11). The building is not shown as standing on the

1884 map (Figure 14) but the some of its fabric may survive as part of a boundary wall.

48. Archaeological excavation

Archaeological test trenches (licence 19E0427), see below Section 6.

49. Lane

Lane shown on the 1840 OS 6 inch map running south-east from the main entrance at

the south of the St Patrick's Rock towards Moor Lane (Figures 11, 16). A walled pathway

is shown at roughly the same location on the c. 1739 engraving (Figure 7).


49

Figure 38: Plan of Trenches 3, 4, 5, 6 Rock Road and Rock of Cashel (Pollock 2016)

50. Archaeological test-excavation

The following is the Excavations Bulletin summary of the test excavations undertaken by

Dave Pollock on the road to the south-west of the Rock of Cashel (Figures 16, 38)

(Pollock 2016): 'In May 2016 seven test trenches were cut through the road climbing the

Rock of Cashel, and into the south-west corner of the hilltop enclosure, to assess the

proposed route for new service ducting. All trenches encountered soil and rubble, but

there was no clear indication of an early metalled road on the present approach, which

has been the main approach since at least the 1840s. Test trenching in the south-west

corner of the hilltop enclosure found a substantial depth of rubble and soil overlying

archaeological levels (a thin skim over bedrock). In Trench 3 clean bedrock at the foot of

the medieval wall was overlain by 0.6m of late rubble, and fragmentary floor remains

nearby were lower, under more than 0.8m of soil and rubble. Similar late rubble and soil


50

against the east and north side of the corner tower extended to at least 0.5m below

ground level in the hollow. No human burials were found during the testing. A few

disarticulated and broken pieces of possible arm or leg bone were observed in Trenches 2

and 3, amongst rubble. No articulated pieces and no teeth or skull fragments were found.

Cutting the ducting trench up the approach road was monitored from the evening of 30

May. Most of the works were undertaken between 5.30 pm and dusk, to minimise the

nuisance for visitors and staff at the Rock. Trench 9, on the hilltop, cut into a deep

rubble soil, mostly spoil from the later 20th century, but some perhaps associated with

19th-century conservation works. Prior to this the ground was probably outcropping

rock with a thin and patchy covering of topsoil. There was no indication of graves cut

into the rock in this area, and very little of the late medieval building between the corner

tower and the surviving hall of the Vicars Choral is likely to have survived. Under the

present approach road bedrock is close to ground level on the uphill side, but in places

below the depth (0.7m) of the new service trench on the downhill side. A deep layer of

rubble and soil under the present road probably represents earlier paths, over pockets of

old soil and occasional patches of clay subsoil. Material of archaeological interest has

survived on a terrace in the vicinity of Trench 10, and may be quite extensive, below the

depth of Trench 8. Elsewhere survival is probably poor, on formerly exposed rock.

51. Archaeological test-excavation

Archaeological assessment (licence E4750) undertaken by Joanne Hughes in 2015 in

advance of the redevelopment of the former archepiscopal palace included the

excavation of seventeen trenches, four of which (Trenches 13, 15, 16, 17) were situated

in the walled garden enclosure immediately to the south of the proposed development

site and 45m south of the test trench excavated within it (Hurley 2017) (Figure 16).2 In

Hughes's Trenches 16-17 a series of linear features which were found cutting the subsoil

were interpreted as the remains of slots for earthfast sill-beam houses, sealed beneath

1.2m of horticultural soils (Trenches 16, 17), which the excavator suggested were

introduced for the archbishops' gardens (Hurley 2017, 10). Whilst these were regarded as

cultivation furrows and features 'typical of ground cultivation' by Hurley, the clear

evidence for identical sill-beam structures, a ditch and other features of medieval date in

2 Whilst this report was not available to view, a summary critique of it was included in a subsequent

assessment by Maurice Hurley of the same development (Hurley 2017).


51

Test Trench 1 excavated for the present project supports Hughes's interpretation and

strongly suggests the continuation to the south of the early Anglo-Norman settlement.

Another of Hughes's trenches, Trench 13, was placed across the line of the town wall,

revealing a 1.4m wide x 1.2m deep stone wall set on an off-set footing to the north

(Hurley 2017, 8). No indication of a fosse was present; medieval pits were identified

cutting the subsoil to the north of the wall.


52

6. ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEST EXCAVATIONS

19E0427

6.1 Introduction

Test-excavations were undertaken within the proposed development area 15th-19th July

2019 under excavation licence 19E0427 and 27th-29th May 2020 under excavation

licence 19E0427 (ext.). Four trenches in total were excavated within the proposed

development area (Figure 39). Test-trench 1, excavated in July 2019, was dug as a

research exercise with the primary aim of assessing the date and physical form of a

rectangular enclosure that was identified by geophysical survey as surrounding the

putative barrow RMP TS061-025157- (Figures 39, 40). The excavations were undertaken

in conjunction with the Leverhulme Trust funded project Comparative Kingship: the

early medieval kingdoms of Northern Britain and Ireland' (grant ref. RL-2016-069)

(principal investigator Dr Patrick Gleeson, Queen's University Belfast). A single 3m wide

x 25m trench was excavated across the south side of the enclosure (Figures 40, 41). The

sod was removed by a 10-ton mechanical excavator and the rest of the excavation was

undertaken manually. All of the exposed archaeological features described below have

been preserved in situ, apart from discrete sondages that were excavated into the possible

foundation trench [011], posthole [005] and the fosse [017] (Figure 40).

Test-trenches 2 and 3 were excavated in order to assess the potential archaeological

impact of the original layout proposals (since modified) for a play area for the Town Park

in the eastern portion of the site (Figure 39). An area of high magnetic interference had

been identified in the area of test-trench 2 and no clear geophysical anomalies had been

identified in the area of test trench 3 (Figures 40, 41). As in test-trench 2, the sod was

removed by a 10-ton mechanical excavator and the rest of the excavation was undertaken

manually. All of the exposed archaeological features were preserved in situ, apart from

discrete sondages which were excavated into the fills of features to obtain dating

evidence.


53

Figure 39: Location of archaeological test trenches 1-4, 19E0427 on site location map


54

Figure 40: Location of archaeological test trenches 1-4, 19E0427 on magnetic gradiometer data (Earthsound Geophysics 2014, fig. 3)


55

Figure 41: Location of archaeological test trenches 1-4, 19E0427 on In-phase data level 1 (Earthsound Geophysics 2014, fig. 5)


56

Figure 42: Test trench 1, 19E0427, west-facing section (top), mid-excavation (middle) and final (bottom) excavation plans.


57

Figure 43: Excavation trench 1, 19E0427, from south, putative ring barrow top left.


58

Figure 44: Test trench 1, 19E0427, uncovering metalled surface [0363] sealed underneath bank

[013], [014], from north.


59

Figure 45: Test-Trench 1, 19E427 excavations underway 16th July 2019, from south.

Figure 46: 19E427, Test Trench 1, House 2, from south.


60

Figure 47: Test Trench 1, 19E427, metalled surface [036] under bank [013], [014], and ditch

[017], from north-west.

Figure 48: Test Trench 1, 19E427, clay bank [ 014] and loose stone [013], from north-west


61

6.2 Test-Trench 1 Summary of Findings

6.2.1 Stratigraphy

The glacial boulder clay [002] sloped sharply down from north (109.25m OD) to south

(106.55m OD), forming a distinctive east-west orientated escarpment (Figure 42). On the

flat ground to the north of the escarpment and cutting into the boulder clay were two

slot trenches [003] and [009] and a posthole [005], the north-west corner of a rectangular

earthfast sill-beam structure (Structure 1) of medieval type; a posthole [005] immediately

inside its west wall produced a small (31 mm) iron handle (19E427:005:001), similar to a

late twelfth-early thirteenth century casket handle from Waterford (Scully 19087, 453, 455

(no.20)) (Figure 42). The foundation slots cut into an earlier 4.5m long x 0.8m wide

(min.) x 0.3m deep north-south running linear cut [011], possibly representing an earlier

foundation trench (Figure 42). At the south end of the excavation trench two foundation

slots, [024] and [022], and a posthole [026] for the north-east corner of a second

earthfast sill-beam structure (Structure 2) were noted; none of the slots were excavated in

this instance (Figures 42, 46). Structure 2 also truncated an earlier north-south linear gully

[030], which was probably an agricultural furrow.

Between the two houses, and probably truncating Structure 1, a 2m wide x 1.2m deep V-

profiled ditch [017] had been formed by excavating into the edge of the escarpment

(Figures 42, 47). At its narrowest point the base was just 0.6 wide, perhaps therefore

indicating it was intended as a defensive ditch. Upcast from the ditch had been placed

upslope (to the north) to form a 0.75m high x 2m wide clay bank [014], the interior of

which was revetted with loose stones [013] (Figures 42, 47). The bank produced a sherd

of Ham Green B pottery, an iron handle and a fragment of an iron buckle, as well as

animal bone and charred grain. It was set upon a roughly stone-metalled formation level

[036], which was presumably laid in order to provide it with a stable platform (Figures 42,

47).

The base of the ditch had filled through natural silting, represented by silted layers [043]

and [034]; the latter produced three sherds of Cashel-type pottery (Figure 42). Following

backfilling of the ditch, the downslope was levelled by the largescale dumping of stone

and clay layers [029], [019], [028], [044] and [018], which contained an abundance of

animal bone, much of it butchered. A silver halfpenny of John as Lord of Ireland (1190-


62

98) (19E427:18:25) was found in the uppermost dump layer [018], along with Cashel-type

pottery, medieval buckles and a twelfth-early thirteenth century Class 11 bronze stick pin

with applied decoration (19E427:18:24) (O'Rahilly 1998, 28-9) (Figures 71, 72), a fine

polished hone-stone fragment and a prehistoric struck flint. A pit [015] which truncated

the south side of the bank [014] produced a silver Edward IV penny (1461-83)

(19E427:16:4) in its stony fill [016] (Figure 42). An intact ring-brooch (thirteenth-

fourteenth century) (19E427:001:37) was recovered from the topsoil (Figure 73).

6.3 Test-Trench 2

Test-trench 2 was a north-west - south-east aligned cutting excavated in the north-west

corner of the proposed development area, 15m south-east of the pedestrian gate in the

north boundary wall (Figure 39). The trench was 20.4m long and 1.5m wide. The ground

level into which Trench 2 was excavated sloped downwards from 117.1m OD at the

north-west end to 116.15m at the south-east (Figures 49, 50). The trench was 0.8m –

1.1m deep, deepening to 1.6m at the center of the trench where a pit [205] and ditch

[207] were investigated. A 0.5m square sondage was excavated to a maximum depth of

2.45m below present ground level (113.3m OD) into the fills of the ditch [207] (Figure

54).

The natural glacial boulder clay [218] was present at c. 0.75m below ground level, sloping

down from north-west to south-east and overlying the pale-grey bedded limestone with

chert bedrock of the Hore Abbey formation.

Ditch [207]

A large 7.25m wide and > 1.6m deep ditch [207] cut into the boulder clay [218] and the

bedrock and orientated in a general east-west direction to follow a natural escarpment at

the base of the Rock was identified in the north of the test trench (Figures 49, 50). The

ditch was not identified in the area of the test trench in the geophysical analysis; instead

this location produced a high magnetic response indicative of disturbance, probably

deriving from a large post-medieval stone-filled pit [205] which had been dug into the

backfills of the ditch (Figures 40, 53). However, the continuation of the ditch to the west

may correlate with a linear anomaly that was identified in the geophysical survey (Figure

41). The sides and base of the ditch were not excavated, instead a 0.5m x 0.5m sondage


63

was excavated into its central backfills (Figures 49, 50). The ditch was cut across the

escarpment so that its north edge was higher (115.88m OD) than the south (114.6m

OD). A mixed > 1.5m wide deposit of boulder clay and stone [206] dumped to the north

of the ditch [207] may be a remnant of what was originally an internal (north) bank.

Exposed in the southwest side of the trench was the near-vertical face of a north-south

aligned 0.9m long x > 1.15m deep spur of bedrock that ran perpendicular to, and may

have spanned the line of the ditch to form a causeway or bridge across its extent (Figures

49, 50, 54).

Six fills were recorded in the ditch (Figure 50). The lowest two ditch-fills, [215] and [214],

were noted in the sondage excavated into the centre of the ditch. [215] was investigated

to a depth of 0.44m but was not bottomed and extended below the base of excavation. It

was a very mixed, loose, dumped deposit of dark-grey silty-clay with frequent small to

medium-sized sub-angular stones and frequent animal bones, several of which bore clear

butchery marks. A single sherd of Cashel-type medieval (13th-14th century) pottery was

recovered from the base of the excavated deposit. Overlying [215] was a c. 0.3m thick

mid-grey/brown silty-clay with occasional small to medium sized stones, moderate

fragments of animal bone and occasional flecks and small lumps of charcoal. Both [215]

and [214] were dumped directly against the east face of the bedrock 'causeway'.

Overlying [214] and the top of the undug bedrock bridge was a loose deposit of mid

brown/grey silty clay and wood-ash [219], probably occupation debris that had been

dumped into the ditch. It, in turn, underlay [203], the upper fill of the north side of the

ditch [207]. It was c. 5.4m wide and 0.38m – 0.62m thick, sloped down from north-west

to south-east, and comprised of dark-brown silty-clay and moderate small to medium

sized stones, with several discrete lenses of stone throughout the deposit. The deposit

contained fragments of animal bone and four sherds of Cashel-type medieval pottery.

Overlying [203] at the south side of the ditch was a 0.24m thick x 0.5m wide dumped

deposit of ash and clay [213], comprised of c. 80% compacted mid yellow/brown ash and

c. 20% mid grey silty clay with frequent animal bones. Eleven sherds of Cashel type

medieval pottery were recovered from the deposit. The ash deposit [213] was sealed by

the uppermost fill of the ditch, a 0.18m thick dumped deposit of mid-grey/brown silty-

clay with occasional small stones [208].


64

Figure 49: Plan of 19E427 Test-Trench 2


65

Figure 50: North-east facing section of 19E427 Test-Trench 2


66

Figure 51: Vertical aerial shot of 19E427 Test-Trench 2. The ranging rods are aligned on the ditch [207].


67

Figure 52: 19E427 Test-Trench 2, from the north-west, showing line of ditch [207].


68

Figure 53: 19E427 Test-Trench 2, the partially excavated stone fill pit [205] truncating the fills of the

ditch [207], from the east.

Figure 54: 19E427 Test-Trench 2, sondage at the base of excavation from the south-east, showing the

exposed bedrock, fills of the ditch [207] and the later stone filled pit [205].


69

Possible post hole [209]

A possible post-hole [209] was uncovered immediately south of the south edge of the

ditch [207], cutting into the natural boulder clay [218] (Figure 49). Its sub-oval cut

measured 0.4m x 0.3m and it was filled by a deposit of dark grey silty-clay [210]. The

feature was not excavated.

Pit [211]

A large 6.6m x 2m wide pit [211] was uncovered at the south-east end of Test-Trench 2,

cut into the natural boulder clay [218] (Figure 49). Its upper fill was a dumped deposit of

mid-grey silty-clay with moderate small sub-angular stones [212]. The feature was not

excavated.

Leveling deposits

A series of four dumped leveling deposits raised the ground level by c. 0.8m – 1m and

overlay the features that cut the natural boulder clay (Figures 49, 50). The earliest make-

up deposit comprised of a small patch of redeposited boulder clay [217] which overlay

the south side of the ditch [207] and was sealed by [216], a 0.4m – 0.58m thick, dumped

mid-brown/grey silty-clay with occasional small stones, charcoal, coal and animal bone.

It overlay the upper fills of the ditch [207] and the pits [205] and [211]. Overlying the

north-west end of [216] was a 4.6m wide and up to 0.64m thick, loose dumped deposit of

stone and clay [220] that may have been dumped to counteract subsidence of the

backfills of the ditch [207]. The final leveling deposit was a 0.55m thick, loose dumped

deposit of stone in a matrix of mid grey/brown clay [202], with occasional animal bones

and fragments of coal and charcoal.

Stone-filled pit [205]

A large, 4.8m (north-east to south-west) x > 1.6m pit [205] was cut through the backfill

of the ditch [207] and the leveling deposits [220] and [202] (Figures 49, 50, 53). The pit

was partially excavated to a depth of 1m and continued below the base of excavations.

The sides of the cut were concave. The pit was backfilled by a single deposit [204] which

comprised almost entirely of loose stone, small to medium sized sub-angular and angular

limestones (c. 0.4m x 0.4m x 0.4m), with occasional larger stones (Figure 53). There was

no sign that the stones had been derived from building activities and they appear, instead,

to have been field stones, perhaps dumped in the pit to provide drainage for a sump


70

feature. Amongst the stones there were occasional fragments of handmade, probably

18th century, red brick and animal bone.

Topsoil 201

The 0.1m - 0.18m thick topsoil [201] covered the stone-filled pit [205] and extended

throughout the trench..

Figure 55: 19E427 Test-Trench 3, plan.


71

Figure 56: 19E427, Test-Trench 3, sections sondages through possible corn-drying kilns.


72

Figure 57: 19E427, Test-Trench 3, vertical aerial photo.


73

Figure 58: 196E427, Test-Trench 3 under excavation from the north-west.

Figure 59: 19E427, Test-Trench 2, Pit [311], possible kiln [307] and boundary [305] truncating the

ditch [303]/[323] in Test-Trench 3, from the south-east.


74

Figure 60: 19E427, Test-Trench 3, possible kiln [315] in structure [313]/[317].

Figure 61: 19E427, Test-Trench 3, sondage excavated into possible kiln [307], from the west.


75

Figure 62: 19E427, sondage excavated into possible kiln [315], from the north.

6.4 Test-Trench 3

Trench 3 was a 20m long x 1.5m wide x 0.5m-0.8m deep wide north-west to south-east

aligned cutting excavated in the north-west corner of the proposed development area,

20m south-east of Test-Trench 2 (Figure 39). The ground-level here sloped down from

112.13m OD at the north-west end of the cutting to 110.23m at the south-east.

The natural glacial boulder clay [302] uncovered at the base of excavation sloped down

from north-west to south-east.

Ditch [303]/[323]

A 10.2m long x 1.3m wide stretch of probable curvilinear ditch [303/323] cut into the

natural boulder clay [302] was identified at the north end of the test-trench (Figures 55,

57). The ditch extended up to the north side of the possible structure [313/317] and may

have been cut by it. No trace of the feature was noted to its south. The ditch was also cut

by a possible linear boundary feature [305], a pit [311], and a possible corn-drying kiln

[307]. The ditch [303/323] extended beyond the limit of excavation to the north and west

and was not identified on the geophysical survey. It was backfilled by mid-brown silty


76

clay deposits with redeposited boulder clay and stone [304] and [322]. There was a higher

percentage of boulder clay and less stone in [322]. Sherds of Cashel-type medieval

pottery was recovered from both [304] and [322]. The ditch was not excavated.

Linear cuts [320], [305]

Two north-east to south-west aligned linear cuts were recorded crossing test-trench 3

(Figures 55, 57). The linear cut [320] at the south-east end of the trench was cut into a

spread of silty clay [319] and the natural boulder clay [302]. It was at least 0.7m wide and

was backfilled by [321], a deposit of dark-grey silty-clay with moderate small to medium

sized stones. The second linear cut [305] was 0.95m – 1m wide and was cut into the

backfills of the ditch [303/323] and the natural boulder clay [302]. The cut was backfilled

by a dumped deposit [306] of mid-grey silty-clay with moderate small to medium sized

stones.

Pit/kiln [315] and possible enclosing structure [313]/[317]

What may be the end of the bowl of a corn-drying kiln [315] cut into the natural boulder

clay [302] was enclosed by the linear gullies [320] and [305] (Figures 55, 56, 60). As

exposed, it measured 1.58m x 0.8m and it extended beyond the limit of excavation to the

south-west. A sondage was excavated into the north-east end of the feature, revealing a

well-defined 0.28m deep bowl-shaped cut, filled by a deposit of dark-brown silty-clay

with moderate small stones [316] (Figures 56, 60).

[315] may have been enclosed by a 1.3m wide (NW-SE) structure represented by the

gullies [313] and [317] (Figures 55, 59). These two cuts may have formed the north-east

end of a square or rectangular earth-cut foundation trench, with an 0.8m wide opening in

its north-east side. The exposed cuts were L-shaped in plan and both were 0.6m wide.

The cut [313] was backfilled by a deposit of dark brown silty clay [314], that yielded two

sherds of Cashel-type medieval pottery and two iron nails.

Possible kiln [307]

A second possible drying kiln [307] was located immediately to the south-east of the

possible boundary feature [305], cut into the ditch fill [322] and the natural boulder clay

[302] (Figures 55, 56). The east end of the feature was 1.2m wide and roughly oval in

plan and its west end was a linear 0.6m wide flue. A small sondage excavated into the flue


77

indicated it was 0.14m deep with concave sides and a slightly rounded base. A compact

deposit of dark-brown silty-clay [308] with occasional small and medium sized stones and

animal bones filled the cut and produced a single sherd of Cashel-type medieval pottery.

Pit [311]

An oval > 0.9m x 1.2m pit [311] was located 0.1m to the south-east of the kiln [307] and

was cut into the ditch backfill [322] and the natural boulder clay [302] (Figure 59). A

deposit of dark-brown silty clay with occasional small stones and animal bone [312],

similar to [308], filled the pit and produced a sherd of Cashel-type pottery, a copper alloy

dress pin and a small piece of lead pistol shot.

Topsoil [301]

The topsoil [301] extended throughout the trench and comprised a 0.8m thick dumped

leveling deposit of mid brown/grey clay with moderate small to medium sized stones,

occasional large stones, animal bone and fragments of charcoal and coal.

Figure 63: 19E427, Test-trench 4, plan.


78

Figure 64: 19E427, Test-trench 4, north facing section

Figure 65: 19E427, Test-trench 4, vertical aerial photograph.


79

Figure 66: 19E427, Test-trench 4, ditches [403] and [407], and gully [418] in the foreground, from

the east.

Figure 67: 19E427, Test-trench 4, bank deposits [420], [415], [416], [414] and [417], with stone

ditch fill [408] in the foreground, from the east.


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Figure 68: 19E427, Test-Trench 4, slippage [409] against the west side of the bank with the ditches

[410] and [412] in the foreground, from the west.

Figure 69: 19E427, Test-Trench 4, gravel path [406] on top of the bank, from north.


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6.5 Test-Trench 4

Test-trench 4 was an east-west aligned cutting which was excavated across the raised

curvilinear earthwork known as the 'Bishop’s Walk' in order to determine its make-up,

date and the nature of its surfacing materials (Figure 39). The cutting measured 17.3m

east-west x 1.5m – 1.8m wide and was excavated to a depth of c. 0.4m – 0.5m. The

ground level into which trench was excavated was 116.71m OD at the west end and it

sloped down gradually to 116.06m at its east end. The top of the Bishop’s Walk in the

centre of the trench was at 117.19m OD.

The natural glacial boulder clay [402] was uncovered at 116.08m OD at the west end of

the trench and at 115.85m at the east end.

Ditch [403]

A north-south aligned, 2.15m wide x 0.62m deep, ditch [403] was identified cutting into

the natural boulder clay [402] to the east of the Bishop’s Walk (Figures 63, 64, 65). A

sondage excavated into the cut indicated its west side was almost straight and inclined at

c. 80°, with a flat base. The ditch was backfilled with a dumped deposit of mid

brown/grey silty clay with frequent small to large stones [404]. The stones in the fill

became more numerous towards the base of the cut. The deposit contained frequent

animal bones, several with butchery marks, as well as a copper-alloy strap-end or lace-

chape and two iron nails. The ditch and its fills were truncated at the south limit of

excavation by the east-west aligned gully [418].

Pit/Ditch [412]

A large 2.05m wide x 0.46m deep pit or ditch [412] cutting into the natural boulder clay

[402] at the west end of the trench (Figures 63, 64, 65). The cut was backfilled with a

loose dumped deposit of mid grey silty-clay [413] with frequent small to medium-sized

stones. An unidentified strip of copper alloy was recovered from the top of [413]. The

feature was not excavated.

Ditches [407] and [410] flanking the Bishop’s Walk

The raised walkway of the Bishop's Walk had been formed by the upcast from a pair of

parallel ditches, which presumably provided the material for its construction. On the

west side of the walkway a 2.05m wide x 0.46m deep, north-south aligned, ditch [410)


82

was identified cutting into the natural boulder clay [402] (Figures 63, 64, 65). A 0.3m x

0.3m sondage excavated into the ditch indicated it had a flat base and was filled with a

mid-grey/brown silty-clay [411] with moderate small to medium sized stones. [411]

yielded a sherd of eighteenth-nineteenth century Creamware pottery and two fragments

of bottle glass of similar date. The backfill [411] underlay a layer of bank slippage [409]

and the topsoil [401].

A 1.44m wide north-south aligned ditch [407], probably a re-cut of the original east ditch

of the Bishop’s Walk, cut into the boulder clay [402] and ran along the east side of the

bank of the embankment. The ditch was filled with a dumped deposit [408] of loose,

small to large-sized stones in a matrix of mid-grey silty-clay. The feature was not

excavated. The backfill [408] underlay a layer of bank slippage [405] and the topsoil [401].

Bishop's Walk, bank deposits and paths

Excavated indicated that the 5.45m wide (at base of excavation) x 2m high (above base

of ditch [410]) raised embankment walkway known as the Bishop's Walk comprises of

four distinct dump deposits (Figures 63, 64, 65, 67). As no redeposited boulder clay was

noted in the bank it is probable that further bank deposits exist below the base of

excavation, possible forming a core to the bank. Slippage [405] and [409] was present

against the east and west sides; the latter was steeper than the east side (Figure 68).

The earliest exposed bank deposit [420] was a > 0.35m deep (not bottomed) x 5.45m

wide, compact dark-grey clay with occasional small stones that continued below the base

of excavation. [420] was sealed by a 30mm thick layer of mid-brown clay and gravel [415]

that may represent the primary surfacing for a path on the Bishop's Walk at 116.25m

OD. If the local tradition that the feature was used for a time as a walkway for the

archbishops of Cashel is true this was presumably the surface of the walkway that would

have provided access to the Rock between c. 1732, when the new archepiscopal palace

was built, and c. 1749, when the cathedral on the Rock was abandoned in favour of a new

church on the site of the present cathedral church of St John the Baptist. A c. 0.2m thick

deposit of mid grey/brown silty clay [416], probably a buried sod layer, overlay the

possible ground surface [415], and, in turn, underlay a second path surface [414], a 30mm

thick deposit of lime mortar fragments, gravel and coal at 116.45m OD. It was, in turn,

covered over by a second buried sod horizon [417], a c. 0.26m thick deposit of mid-


83

grey/brown silty-clay. The third, and final, path surface [406] was laid on top of the

buried sod [417] and was a 50mm thick x 1.65m wide compacted light-grey gravel at

116.96m OD (Figure 69). This surface is probably of relatively modern date.

Slippage deposits of mid grey/brown silty-clay [405] against the east side of the walkway

and [409] against its west side overlay all of the identified bank deposits and the backfill

of the ditches [410] and [407]. [405] yielded two sherds of glazed red earthenware, a

sherd of creamware and a single sherd of unglazed earthenware, a clay pipe stem and a

copper alloy dress pin.

Probable drainage gully [418]

A 0.38m wide x 0.17m deep east-west aligned linear gully [418] ran along the south extent

of excavation to the east of the bank for a distance of 5.2m and was cut through the

natural boulder clay [402] and the ditch fills [404] and [408] (Figures 63, 64, 65). The

feature may have been a drain.

Topsoil [401]

Topsoil [401] extended throughout the trench. It was a dumped deposit of mid-

brown/grey clay with moderate small to medium sized stones, occasional large stones,

animal bone and fragments of charcoal and coal. The deposit (including the sod) was

0.12m - 0.5m thick (thinner on top of the bank) and sealed all of the features recorded in

the cutting.

Figure 70: Medieval stylus/parchment pricker.


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Figure 71: Class 11 stick pin 19E427:18:24, 12th-early 13th century.

Figure 72: Ring-brooch 19E427:001:37.

Figure 73: Medieval ring brooch and silver shoe buckle.

2cm

2cm


85

Figure 74: Copper alloy decorated trigger guard, 18th-19th century.

Figure 75: 16th century Antwerp coin weight.


86

6.6 Finds assemblage

Three hundred and seventy five artefacts in total were recovered from the two phases of

test-excavation. Specialist finds reports are currently being written and will be included in

the final report. The following is therefore a preliminary overview of the artefactual

assemblage. Fifty-two sherds of medieval pottery were recovered. Apart from three

sherds of a Ham Green B jug, the medieval pottery assemblage was entirely of the locally

produced glazed earthenware known as Cashel-type, which is conventionally and broadly

dated to the thirteenth-fourteenth century. Fifty sherds of post-medieval pottery were

recovered, predominantly local glazed red earthenware, Creamware and transfer printed

wares. Eight clay pipe fragments from the excavations included two bowls of eighteenth

century date. The glass assemblage includes eight fragments of bottle glass, including the

bases of eighteenth century wine bottles, and four fragments of clear window glass. The

excavations yielded twenty-eight lead objects, including six lead pistol/musket-balls,

some flattened by having been shot, a fragment of a lead stylus and window came

fragments. Eight coins were found: a half coin and half-penny of (?)John lord of Ireland

(1180-1210), a Henry III (?) silver penny, an Edward IV coin, a two George II 1741 ½ d.

coins, an Elizabeth I 1600 or 1601 ½ d. coin, an unidentified coin and a 16th century

Nuremburg jeton. A rare example of a c. 16th century Antwerp coin weight (14mm

square), with a 9 and 2 flanking the 'Antwerp hand' was also found (Figure 75).

Forty copper alloy objects are included in the assemblage: two medieval copper alloy ring

brooches (Figures 72, 73), two medieval rectangular copper alloy buckles, a stick pin with

flat tapered point (Figure 71), ten buttons, including three regimental livery buttons with

the number '16' on their faces, a button with a serpent and anchor and a button with

pinkish glass in a copper alloy mount, two dress pins with wound heads, a decorated

copper alloy cufflink, a decorated copper alloy trigger guard (Figure 74), three mounts, a

possible copper alloy strap end, various strips of copper alloy and (snare?) wires. A silver

shoe-buckle frame was also recovered (Figure 73). Two bone/antler objects are also

present, a fine, near-complete medieval stylus/parchment pricker with turned decoration

(Figure 70) and a bone point. A total of 163 iron objects were recovered, 116 of which

were nails. In addition, four iron buckle fragments, a fragment of iron chain mail, a jews

harp, a possible iron arrowhead and various amorphous fragments of iron were found. A

hone stone fragment was the sole artefact of stone.


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6.7 Preliminary Interpretation

The excavations in test-trench 1 identified the foundation slots for two earthfast sill-

beam structures, probably representing elements of rectangular houses, inside a ditch-

and-bank enclosure which can be dated by the John, lord of Ireland coins to the late

twelfth-early thirteenth century (Figure 39). Whilst there is nothing to indicate the ditch is

of early medieval (or pre Anglo-Norman) date it is possible it was reused by the

Normans. Forthcoming radiocarbon dating of bone samples from its base should be able

to determine whether or not this was the case. It is difficult at this early stage and without

the benefit of radiocarbon dates to interpret the archaeology uncovered but it could form

part of an early, perhaps primary, Anglo-Norman settlement in the area which

subsequently became an extra-mural suburban settlement following construction of the

town wall in around the mid thirteenth century. The large, steep, ditch probably post-

dates the two structures - it appears to truncate Structure 1 - and is clearly defensive in

character (Figure 42). If it forms part of the large 90m x 55m (min) rectangular enclosure

identified in geophysics, as it appears to do, it could be interpreted as part of the 'old

town' of Cashel which is referred to in the dispute between the crown and the

archbishopric in 1218 (Bradley 1985, 44-5).

What may well be the continuation of this settlement to the east may be represented by

the possible drying kilns and various pits and gullies, many of which are dated by Cashel-

type pottery to the 13th-14th centuries, uncovered in test-trenches 2-4, and the similar

array of structures and features identified to the south found in the test-excavations

undertaken in the grounds of the former archepiscopal palace by Joanne Hughes (licence

E4750) (Figure 39). The large 7.25m wide x > 1.6m deep rock-cut ditch [207], complete

with what appears to be a rock-bridge crossing, in test-trench 2 is presently poorly

understood because it proved impossible within the constraints of the excavated test-

trench to reach its base (Figures 49, 50). The recovery of Cashel-type pottery from the

lowest ditch-fill that was reached in the excavation indicates it was at least partially

backfilled at some point after the 13th-14th century, but its date of construction could be

considerably earlier. The ditch may be potentially of significance for our understanding

of the topography of the pre Anglo-Norman ecclesiastical site and its preceding role as

seat of Munster’s over-kingship in the early medieval period.


88

Figure 76: Proposed Town Park development overlain on map of archaeological and built heritage sites (inventorised in Section 5).


89

Figure 77: Potential areas of the proposed development requiring sub-surface excavation. Note only the north-east commencement of the boardwalk requires sub-surface footings (Paul

Hogarth Company).


90

Figure 78: Proposed layout plan of timber boardwalk (Paul Hogarth Company)


91

Figure 79: Proposed typical engineering designs for boardwalk (OSCS Engineers)


92

Figure 80: Proposed boardwalk, structural scheme (OCSC)


93

Figure 81: Proposed engineering design north-east commencement of timber boardwalk (OSCS Engineers)


94

Figure 82: Proposed foundation pad for north-east section of boardwalk (OCSC Engineers)


95

Figure 83: Hedge planting proposal for childrens' maze and picnic area (Paul Hogarth Company)


96

Figure 84: Reinforced grass proposed construction (Paul Hogarth Company)


97

Figure 85: Proposed lighting strategy and proposed lighting schedule (Paul Hogarth Company)


98

7. ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT STATEMENT

7.1 Introduction

The outcome of historical research, geophysical surveys, archaeological test excavations,

a review of previous excavations and a detailed inventorisation of the built heritage of the

subject site and its surrounds facilitates the collation of a comprehensive archaeological

impact statement and archaeological mitigation strategy for the proposed development.

This research demonstrates that extensive, stratified archaeological deposits, features,

structures and artefacts are present within the site. These range in date from the

prehistoric to the post-medieval periods can be considered integral to the origins and

development of the adjoining royal and ecclesiastical centre at the Rock of Cashel and

the medieval and post-medieval town of Cashel.

Given the archaeological sensitivity of the site from the initial stage in the design process

for this project the design team, of which the author is a member, has sought to

minimise the impact of the development on the archaeological and built heritage of the

site. The integration of archaeology into the design process is reflected in the overall

architectural and engineering design layouts, which have sought to exclude physical

development from as much of the site as possible, whilst at the same time delivering on

the overall objective of Tipperary County Council to provide a town park (Figures 3, 76,

77). A proposed amphitheatre-type earthwork structure in the south-west of the site, and

a play area and maze in the north-east, were originally part of the proposed layout and

were placed in areas where geophysical survey and desk-study assessment indicated there

was likely to be less density of archaeological features. However, the second phase of

test-excavations has indicated that archaeological features and structures are present in

these locations and indeed there are likely to be few areas within the site that are

completely devoid of archaeological features. Following a design team workshop, site

visit and meetings with the National Monuments Service, the intensity of the design

proposals was accordingly reduced in favour of a revised layout for the 'amphitheatre'

and the omission of the north-eastern play area (Figures 3, 76, 77). In addition, the

architectural and engineering designs for the proposal boardwalk flanking the Bishop's

Walk were revised to minimise the structure's physical impact on both the upstanding

earthwork of the Bishop's Walk and sub-surface archaeological features. An exploration


99

of alternative locations for the boardwalk within the site was also undertaken but this

demonstrated that the current proposal, which references and incorporates the line of the

Bishop's Walk earthwork, as a result of the local physical topography is the only practical

solution to deliver universal access that connects the Rock at the north of the site with

the former Bishop's Palace and town of Cashel in the south (Appendix 2).

The proposed 3.2 hectare development area, situated between the Rock of Cashel

National Monument (ref. 128; RMP TS061-02501--) and the eighteenth century Bishop's

Palace (RMP TS061-025011-), lies within the Zone of Archaeological Protection for the

town of Cashel (RMP TS061-025---) and incorporates a possible barrow mound RMP

(TS061-025157-) (Figure 76). A range of potential and confirmed archaeological features

have been identified within the site by geophysical survey techniques and two phases of

archaeological test excavation (Figures 39, 40, 76). Test excavations (test-trench 1) of a

90m x 55m (min) rectangular enclosure ditch identified in the geophysical analysis has

provided evidence for late-twelfth - fourteenth century Anglo-Norman settlement in the

western part of the proposed development area. Further evidence for what may be the

continuation of this settlement has been identified in the test-trenches excavated to the

east (test-trenches 2-4). In addition, what may be part of a large enclosure ditch,

potentially of pre Anglo-Norman date, has also been identified (test-trench 2) in the

north-east of the site. Excavation of a test-trench across the raised walkway known as the

'Bishop's Walk' has confirmed it is a post-medieval, probably eighteenth century, feature.

The following provides a statement of the potential impacts of the various elements of

the proposed development on the archaeology of the site, followed by recommendations

for further mitigation. An architectural heritage impact assessment also accompanies the

Part VIII planning submission.

7.2 Potential Impacts on Archaeology and Recommendations

for Mitigation

7.2.1 Timber Boardwalk

The proposed timber boardwalk will criss-cross the upstanding remains of the Bishop's


100

Walk (Site 15) (Figures 76, 77, 78). The boardwalk will be constructed to stop either side

of the historic Bishop's Walk and it will not be physically altered by the new structure,

apart from gravelling of the surface, reproducing the path composition uncovered in test-

excavations (Figure 80). The number of supports for the proposed timber walkway has

been minimised to lessen their physical impact on any sub-surface archaeology and in all

but one area, at the commencements of the boardwalk in the north-east, its supports will

be above ground level and will not require any sub-surface excavations (Figures 78, 81).

The footings for the raised part of the walkway in the north-east will require the insertion

of twelve 1.2m x 1.2m x 0.3m deep concrete foundation pads encompassing a total area

of 13m x 6m (Figure 81).

No anomalies indicative of archaeological features were identified in the area of the

proposed foundations in the geophysical survey, but it is possible, that there is a

substantive depth of modern make-up at this location, which would mask the

geophysical signal of any potential archaeological features. The discovery of the

substantial ditch feature in test-trench 2, 10m to the south of the proposed foundations,

indicates there is a high likelihood that further archaeological features will be present

within the area proposed for the north-east commencement of the boardwalk (Figures

49, 76). Although the proposed timber walkway has been designed to minimise its

physical impact on archaeology, the supports required for it and the cumulative impact

on sub-surface archaeology of the twelve proposed individual foundation pads could

impact on previously unrecorded sub-surface archaeology. It is therefore recommended

that full, open-area, archaeological excavation within a 13m x 6m cutting that

corresponds with the footprint of the area of north-east area of the boardwalk that

requires sub-surface footings, shall be undertaken in advance of any construction works.

The full extent and methodology for the excavations shall be agreed in advance with the

National Monuments Service via a method statement to be submitted with a Section 14

excavation licence application.

7.2.2 Play Space

The proposed play space area has been located in the eastern sector of the proposed

development site, where geophysical survey indicated there was a decreased density of

potential archaeological features (Figures 40, 76). However, test-excavations in this area


101

(test-trenches 2-3) have indicated that extensive, densely concentrated archaeological

features of medieval and post-medieval date are present at between 0.25m-0.5m below

the present ground level (Figures 40, 76). Similarly, the first edition Ordnance Survey

map shows the proposed play area in the east of the site overlaps with a north-south

running avenue (Site 49, Lane) that formerly linked with the grounds of the Bishop's

Palace to the south (Figures 12, 76). Its east wall remains largely intact, though sections

have collapsed in recent years.

It is proposed that play features including willow-weave 'dens', a children's maze and a

picnic area will be installed by working with existing site levels but there will still need to

be some localised ground preparation works/disturbance to facilitate insertion of the two

pieces of play equipment (Figures 3, 77). The hedging for the maze will be constructed

wholly on ground that is made-up by importing soil, apart from in localised areas where a

max. 0.2m deep trench that will impinge into the topsoil is required (Figure 83). The

geophysical survey identified a number of north-west to south-east running linear

anomalies in the area of the proposed maze (Figure 3). There is therefore potential for a

minimal impact on sub-surface archaeology but as the level of ground disturbance will be

minimal it is proposed that archaeological monitoring of associated excavations provides

sufficient mitigation. Further general recommendations regarding an archaeological

monitoring strategy are outlined below.

7.2.3 Amphitheatre

The proposed 'amphitheatre', comprising timber decking, will be located in the south-

west corner of the site (Figures 76, 77). No anomalies indicative of archaeological

features were identified in this area in the geophysical survey and the structure will avoid

the site of a rectangular building (Site 46) that is marked in the area on the 1840 first

edition Ordnance Survey maps (Figures 11, 12). The timber decking, occupying an area

15m x 8m, will require discrete foundations to support the seating areas (Figures 3, 76).

Although the seating area has been designed to minimise any physical impact on

archaeology, excavations for its foundations may impact on previously unrecorded sub-

surface archaeology. However, as the level of ground disturbance will be minimal it is

proposed that archaeological monitoring of associated excavations provides sufficient

mitigation. Further general recommendations regarding an archaeological monitoring


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strategy are outlined below.

7.2.4 Paths/Surfaces

Paths and surfaces have been designed to minimise the physical impact on surface and

sub-surface archaeological features (Figures 76, 79). All paths in the most

archaeologically sensitive areas of the site will be simple mown pathways that are set on

Turfmesh reinforcement over made-up ground to avoid wear damage (Figure 84). The

perimeter paths will be of 50mm deep self-binding gravel. On Rock Lane resurfacing

works will require the removal of existing tarmac and gravel surfaces and their

replacement with natural stone paving (Figure 76). On Bothar na Marbh new gravel paths

be laid over the existing path surfaces.

The insertion of pathways around and in the environs of the proposed development area

has been designed to avoid any disturbance of existing ground levels and accordingly it is

proposed that archaeological monitoring of associated works provides sufficient

mitigation. Further general recommendations regarding an archaeological monitoring

strategy are outlined below.

7.2.5 Services

The only services proposed is lighting of the boardwalk and the pathway in the south of

the site (Figure 85). The lighting for the boardwalk will be directly attached to the

structure and will not require any sub-surface excavations. The lighting of the pathway to

in the south of the site will, however, require the excavation of a c. 180m x 0.3m wide x

0.6m deep trench to facilitate the ducting of cables for the lighting (Figure 85). The

precise route of the trench was outside the area that was geophysically surveyed. The

south side of test-trench 1 did overlap at one point of the proposed cable route and

indicated that linear cut features, probably the remains of medieval structures, are present

at a depth of 0.8m below present ground level (Figure 42). The proposed depth of the

service trench, at 0.6m, is unlikely to directly impact on the archaeology in this area and

accordingly it is proposed that archaeological monitoring of associated works provides

sufficient mitigation. Further general recommendations regarding an archaeological

monitoring strategy are outlined below.


103

7.2.6 Visual Impact

The proposed development has the potential to have a visual impact on the setting of the

Rock of Cashel to its north and on the former demesne of the episcopal palace to its

south. This is considered further in the planning submission documents.

7.3 General Archaeological Recommendations

In addition to the recommendations for mitigation of archaeological impacts outlined

above the following general recommendations are proposed:

1. The client shall retain a suitably qualified licensed project-archaeologist to manage the

implementation of the archaeological mitigation strategy and to advise regarding the

archaeological implications of site clearance, demolition and/or construction

methodology and to make appropriate recommendations for mitigation.

2. Section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended) requires that the

consent of the Minister is required for archaeological works at or near a national

monument in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister or a local authority or to

which a preservation order applies. Accordingly, the proposed development and all

associated archaeological works shall be undertaken with the consent of the Minister and

as per the conditions of this consent.

3. All archaeological excavations shall be conducted by the project archaeologist licenced

under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014 and in accordance with a detailed

method statement which should be agreed in advance with the client and the National

Monuments Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the

National Museum of Ireland.

4. Provision and resources should be made for all necessary post excavation works

including processing and cataloguing of finds and samples, third-party specialist reports,

radiocarbon dating, further historical and archaeological research, writing of stratigraphic

report, preliminary and final reports and publication(s).


104

5. The project-archaeologist shall undertake licensed archaeological monitoring of all

demolition and sub-surface works associated with the development including the

breaking and removal of any surfaces, leveling of ground and site investigations. The

archaeologist shall consult with and forward their Method Statement in advance of

commencement to the National Monuments Service. In the event of archaeological

features being located in the course of the monitoring all works in the specifically

affected area shall cease and the developer shall facilitate the archaeologist in fully

recording such features, including if necessary the archaeological excavation of such

features and/or redesign of foundations to allow for preservation in situ. In the event of

significant archaeological features on site, the archaeologist retained by the developer

shall immediately contact the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture,

Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The National Monuments Service shall determine the further

archaeological resolution of the site. The site contractor will be aware of this

requirement and the monitoring archaeologist will be provided with a programme of

works. No sub surface work shall be undertaken in the absence of the archaeologist

without his/her consent. Following the completion of works a written report and a

digital report containing the results of the archaeological monitoring shall be forwarded

on completion to the Planning Authority and National Monuments Service, Department

Arts Heritage and Gaeltacht.

6. The test-excavations have demonstrated that the topsoil contains a rich array of

archaeological objects and accordingly all ground that is disturbed in the development

should be subjected to metal detection to retrieve objects by a suitably experienced metal

detectorist licenced under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014.


105

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bradley, J. 1985. ‘The Medieval Towns of Tipperary’, in W. Nolan and T. McGrath (eds.),

Tipperary: History and Society, Dublin, 34-59.

Cahill, M. 1982. The archaeology of the Barony of Middlethird, Co. Tipperary.

Unpublished M. A. thesis.

Campbell, T. 1778. A Philosophical Survey of the South of Ireland, in a Series of Letters to John

Watkinson, M.D., National Library of Ireland : J.91414.CAN/1778.

Carlisle, N. 1810. Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, London.

Chartae, privilegia et immunitates: being transcripts of charters and privileges to cities, towns, abbeys and

other bodies corporate. 18 Henry II to 18 Richard II (1171 to 1396)(Irish Record

Commission, Dublin, 1889)

Consarc Conservation. 2019. Recreation and Tourism Park, St. Patrick’s Rock, Cashel

Co. Tipperary, Report on Boundary Walls, Consarc Conservation unpublished report.

Craig, M. and Glin, The Knight of. 1970. Ireland observed: a handbook to the buildings

and antiquities. Cork. Mercier Press.

Earthsound Geophysics, 2014, Investigation of the Rock of Cashel, surrounding lands

and lands east of Hore Abbey, St. Patrick's Rock and Horeabbey Townland, Cashel, Co.

Tipperary (licence ref. 14R0034), Earthsound Geophysics, for Dr Patrick Gleeson

(unpublished report).

Empey, A. 1985. 'The Norman Period: 1185-1500', in W. Nolan and T. McGrath (eds.),

Tipperary: History and Society, Dublin, 71-91.

Farrelly, J. and Fitzpatrick, E. 1993. Urban archaeological survey - county Tipperary

(South Riding) (2 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public

Works, Dublin.

Finn, A. 1930. Cashel and its ancient corporation. Dublin and Cork. The Talbot Press Ltd.

Galloway, P. 1992. The Cathedrals of Ireland, Belfast.

Gleeson, P. forthcoming. Landscapes of Kingship, in prep.

Gregory, N. 2000. 'Friar's Street, Cashel: Urban medieval'. In I. Bennett (ed.),

Excavations 1999: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 286. Bray.

Wordwell.


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Hayden, A. 1991. 'Nos. 66-73 Main Street, Cashel: Urban medieval'. In I. Bennett (ed.),

Excavations 1990: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 51-2.

Bray. Wordwell.

Henry, M. 1998 'Lower Gate Street, Cashel: Urban medieval'. In I. Bennett (ed.),


Wordwell.

Henry, M. 2000 'St Patricksrock/Ladyswell/Moor/St Dominicks

Abbey/Cashel/Loughnafina/Green/Wailer's Lot/Ashwells Lot/Hore Abbey and

country townlands, Cashel: Medieval and post-medieval town and vicinity of a Cistercian

Abbey'. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1998: summary accounts of archaeological

excavations in Ireland, 190-92. Bray. Wordwell.

Hodkinson, B. 1994 'Excavations at Cormac's Chapel, Cashel, 1992 and 1993: a

preliminary statement', Tipperary Historical Journal 7, 167-74.

Hodkinson, B. 1994 'Cormac's Chapel, Cashel: Romanesque church', in I. Bennett (ed.),


Wordwell.

Hurley, F. M. 2000. 'Collier's Lane, Cashel: Urban medieval/post-medieval'. In I. Bennett

(ed.), Excavations 1999: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 285.

Bray. Wordwell.

Hurley, M.F. 2017. Archaeological Assessment of proposed development, the Bishop's Palace (Cashel

Palace Hotel), Cashel, Co Tipperary, Maurice F. Hurley, Consultant Archaeologist.

Jackson, R. W. 1949. 'The walls of Cashel'. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 7, no. 1,

24-5.

Jackson, R. W. 1957. 'Cashel annals - up to 1500 A.D.', North Munster Antiquarian

Journal 7, no. 4, 15-19.

Leslie, J.B. 2012. Clergy of Cashel and Emly, Clergy of Leighlin, Diocesan Council of Cashel

and Ossory (reprint).

Manning, C. 1990 'Rock of Cashel, St Patrick's Rock: ecclesiastical' in I. Bennett (ed.),

Excavations Bulletin 1989: summary account of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 46.

Bray. Wordwell.

Manning, C. 2019. 'The college of the vicars choral at Cashel', Journal of Irish Archaeology

Vol. 26 (2017), 167-200.


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Moss, R. 2014. Art and Architecture of Ireland, Volume 1, Medieval c. 400-c. 1600, Royal Irish

Academy, Dublin.

O'Donnell, M. 1989. 'Main St., Cashel: medieval urban'. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations

1988: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 36. Bray. Wordwell.

O'Donnell, M. G. 2004. 'The Green, Cashel: Urban medieval'. In I. Bennett (ed.),


Wordwell.

O'Donovan, E. 1997. 'Friar Street, Cashel: Medieval urban'. In I. Bennett (ed.),

Excavations 1996: summary accounts of excavations in Ireland, 99-100. Bray. Wordwell

Ó Drisceoil, C., 2019, Archaeological Assessment: Proposed Town Park, Camus road/Rock lane,

St. Patricksrock (RMP TS061-025----), Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Kilkenny Archaeology for

Tipperary County Council.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler). 1930. Letters containing information relative to the

antiquities of the county of Tipperary collected during the progress of the Ordnance

Survey in 1840. Bray.

O'Rahilly, C. 1998. 'A classification of bronze stick-pins from the Dublin excavations

1962-72', in C. Manning (ed), Dublin and Beyond the Pala, Studies in Honour of Patrick Healy,

23-34, Bray.

Pollock, D. 2003. '29 Main Street, Cashel: Urban medieval'. In I. Bennett (ed.),


Wordwell.

Pollock, D. 2016. 'Cashel, Rock of Cashel, Tipperary',

https://excavations.ie/report/2016/Tipperary/0025643/

Stevens, S. 1991. '44-46 Main St., Cashel: urban'. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1990:

summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 51. Bray. Wordwell.

Thomas, A. 1992. The walled towns of Ireland, 2 vols. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.

https://excavations.ie/report/2016/Tipperary/0025643/


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Wyse Jackson, R. 1949. 'The walls of Cashel', North Munster Antiquarian Journal 6 (1), 24-5.


109

APPENDIX 1: RECORDED MONUMENTS AND

PLACES ENTRIES

TS061-025157- Mound

On a SW-facing slope SW of the Rock of Cashel, in undulating terrain, on a natural

sloping terrace. In pasture. The hilltop enclosure (TS061-072----) on Windmill Hill is

clearly visible to the S. Earthwork identified on an aerial photograph 9879/80. Circular

flat-topped mound (diam. 15m) sloping to the S. The mound is less pronounced in the N

and E, the northern quadrant of the mound is level with the exterior and the eastern

quadrant is 0.25m above the exterior. The mound slopes down to the S (H 2.4m over

9m) where there may have been some small scale quarrying as there is a depression with

a false bank of upcast or slippage around the southern edge. A lot of small stones are

visible in this bank where exposed by livestock. The mound’s profile is well defined in

the W quadrant (H 1.3m). There is a large tree growing on top of the mound in the NW

quadrant. A geophysical survey was carried out in this field in 2014 as a result of which a

possible circular ditched feature (diam. c. 6-7m) was identified 5m S of the mound

(Gimson and Bonsall 2014, 14, fig.3). Also this survey identified a probable rectilinear

enclosure (dims. 75m E-W; c. 30m N-S) surrounding the mound (ibid.). The northern

enclosing element was not identified but is probably roughly parallel with the pathway to

the N. The date and function of this enclosure are unknown.

TS061-025---- Historic Town

In 370 Cashel became the principal stronghold of the Kings of Munster (Craig, M. and

the Knight of Glin, 1970, 24-25). In 1101 it became primarily an ecclesiastical centre

(ibid.), having been handed over to the Church by Muircheartach O'Brien (O'Flanagan

1930, 121-127; 128-152). The town was taken out of the archbishop's control in 1218 by

the Justiciar of Ireland (Bradley 1985, 45). Ten years later the new town of Cashel was

returned to the control of Archbishop Marianus Ua Briain with the agreement of Henry

III (ibid.). In 1250 there is a charter from Archbishop Muirin to the reeve and twelve

burgesses (Cahill 1982, 8/32). Edward Bruce halted his army here in 1316 and held a

Parliament at Cashel (Jackson 1957, 15-19). The town wall was built between 1319 and

1324 (Jackson 1949, 24-25). The ecclesiastical centre on the Rock of Cashel was burnt in

1647 by Murrough O'Brien, Earl of Inchiquin (Op. cit., 1970, 24-25). From the 1980s

onwards, a series of archaeological excavations have uncovered information about the

medieval layout of the town. In 1988 a trial excavation was conducted at the town wall in

the Mitchelstown Co-op complex revealed that 'a thick occupation deposit ran under the

wall and may have related to a pre-walled Norman occupation or to some activity

associated with the ecclesiastical settlement at the Rock of Cashel' (O'Donnell 1989, 36).

A subsequent excavation in 1990 confirmed the medieval date of the wall (Stevens 1991,

51). A post-medieval four-sided sunken stone structure (c.4.3m x 3.5m ext.) was also


110

revealed (ibid.). Other test excavations in 1990 close to the Main Street frontage, at 66-73

Main St., revealed possible house floors of probable medieval date (Hayden 1991, 51-2).

Excavation in 1997 at Lower Gate Street found no evidence to suggest that there was

medieval or post-medieval suburban settlement or activity outside the walled town

(Henry 1998, 160). It can be surmised, in this part of Cashel, that the town wall acted as a

boundary for buildings and gardens (ibid.). From April 1998 to January 1999 a new storm

and foul network of pipes was laid in and around parts of the town of Cashel (Henry

2000, 190). A licence was held to monitor all ground disturbance works in association

with this scheme (ibid.). Regarding The Green and Upper Green, an area of the town

that is c. 40m to the south of the medieval walled town, there was no evidence to suggest

the presence of extra-mural activity of medieval date (ibid. 191). Equally there was no

evidence uncovered in McCann Street, a street c. 80m to the east of the walled town, to

suggest that there ever was significant medieval or post-medieval activity in this part of

the town (ibid.). There were no traces of earlier street patterns, strata or structures of any

significant archaeological date, other than services, found on McCann Street (ibid.). It

could be concluded that there was little or no tendency for the town of Cashel to expand

in any large scale in an easterly or southerly direction beyond the walled town during the

medieval period and in particular in the earlier part of the post-medieval period (ibid.).

Another area looked at outside the walled town was Camus Road, 90m to the west of the

west circuit of the walled town (ibid.). Limited evidence was found of archaeological

activity (ibid.). A possible medieval cobbled surface was uncovered during pre-

construction testing (ibid.). The surface was sealed with a rich, black, organic dumped

material (ibid.).

The findings from Camus Road, though limited, tied into those found on the lane off

Camus Road (ibid.). This lane extended in a westerly direction away from the walled

town and at right angles to the west of Camus Road (ibid.). There was a dense network

of cobbled surfaces, one superseding the other. In most instances the surfaces were

separated by medieval, dumped, organic material (ibid.). In addition to the medieval

deposits and cobbled surfaces a substantial wall was uncovered in section. It was 7m long

and had an average height of 0.5m (ibid.). Though of medieval date, the wall was pre-

dated by organic deposits and surfaces. It was not possible to determine the function of

the wall (ibid.). However, the findings from the excavation along the lane confirmed that

there was extra-mural activity during the medieval and post-medieval period in this part

of the town (ibid.). Evidence of early streets was uncovered: their demise, the build-up of

organic material, the laying of new cobbled surfaces and a substantial medieval wall, a

possible wall of a large extra-mural building (TS061-025032-) (ibid.).

Colliers Lane and William Street in the centre of the town were looked at (ibid.). Both

areas would have been at the heart of or close to commercial activity in the medieval

market town (ibid.). Colliers Lane, though just outside the walled town, would have been

close to the activities in the medieval town, and the lane is very near the Dominican

Abbey (ibid.). Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of Colliers Lane was the very high

level of disturbance and truncation of deposits by stone-lined culverts and dormant and


111

live services (ibid.). Any archaeology that may have survived from the medieval and/or

post-medieval period would have been destroyed by the extensive ground disturbances

along this lane during the late 19th and 20th century (ibid.).

William Street provided the only opportunity to see what was going on inside the

medieval walled town (ibid.). It was strategically placed between two important medieval

streets, John Street and Main Street, and would have extended alongside the backs of

properties that fronted onto those streets and burgage plots (ibid.). Although the trench

for the new pipes was quite narrow, archaeological remains of a medieval date were

identified during the monitoring of construction works (ibid.). A post-medieval street

surface was picked up (ibid.). It overlay two earlier surfaces, again both of post-medieval

date (ibid.). The surfaces sealed dumped occupational debris of medieval date (TS061-

025033-) (ibid.). The deposit was typical dumped domestic waste that is very common to

medieval towns (ibid.). No structures of medieval date were uncovered along the pipeline

route (ibid.). The deposits reflect typical medieval activity, the dumping and accumulation

of the residue from everyday activities inside a medieval town (ibid.).

The development of a site at Collier's Lane, Cashel, required an archaeological

assessment (Hurley 2000, 285). The site is close to the Dominican priory (founded in

1243) and is just outside the walled town (ibid.). A number of linear features were

uncovered by the excavation. Given that the Dominican priory is so close, that these

lands most likely belonged to that order, and that they are known to have houses and

gardens close to the abbey, it is most likely that these linear features are the drainage

ditches that marked out these gardens and fields (ibid.). It is noticeable that in all editions

of the OS 6-inch map of the area the site is shown as being empty except for a series of

small houses or sheds fronting part of Collier's Lane (ibid.).

Excavation of Cashel's medieval town wall and associated features was conducted before

the construction of a library, adjacent to Friar Street (Gregory 2000, 286). The excavated

area consisted of the N-S basal remains of the town wall, built c. 1265 (ibid.). The inner

portion of the town wall was built on the remains of a substantial backfilled ditch (D

1.8m) that extended beyond the excavation area (ibid.). Part of a human burial was

recovered from the base of this ditch. The backfill contained 13th-14th-century pottery

(ibid.). It is probable that the pottery entered here during the backfilling phase. The

nature of the backfill is consistent with bank material (ibid.). It is possible that this ditch

and bank arrangement has some association with the nearby St John's Cathedral (ibid.).

St John's Cathedral is on the site of an earlier, medieval church. Feehan's Road

immediately to the south of St John's Cathedral describes a curve, which may be the

boundary of an ecclesiastical enclosure (ibid.). If the orientation of the low ridge on

which St John's Cathedral stands is considered with the curve of Feehan's Road, it is not

implausible that the backfilled ditch forms part of an ecclesiastical enclosure (ibid.). The

partially excavated remains of the human burial would substantiate an ecclesiastical

perspective (ibid.).


112

Excavation in 2001 at the rear of 29 Main Street revealed a sequence of buildings

(TS061-025039-; TS061-025040-; TS061-025041-) represented occupation from the high

medieval period to the construction of the standing roadside building in the late

18th/early 19th century (Pollack 2003, 380). Towards the rear of the site, 18th-century

buildings overlay infilled clay pits, cultivation soil, and the fragmentary remains of a

substantial mortared stone wall (ibid.). The wall is medieval, and aligns with the property

boundaries on Main Street (ibid.). It is over 1m wide, and might be part of an early town

boundary enclosing properties on medieval John Street, running at right angles to Main

Street (ibid.).

TS061-025023- Town Defences

The outline of the town wall of Cashel has been described as an irregular heart-shaped

area, the circumference of which is a little over a mile in length enclosing approximately

28 acres. The unusual complexity of its shape has been attributed to the need to

accommodate the lands of the pre-existing Franciscan (TS061-025008-) and Dominican

(TS061-025007-) friaries. The promotion of Cashel to the status of a borough is

attributed to Archbishop Donat O'Lonargan (1216-1223) who apparently gave burgage

tenements to the burgesses, reserving to the see a yearly rent of twelve pence out of each

burgage (Finn 1930, 5). About fourteen years later Archbishop Marianus O'Brien (1224-

1238) issued a charter to the reeve and 12 burgesses (Chart. privil. immun., ed. 1889, 21).

There is evidence to suggest that Cashel received a murage grant for four years in 1303

(Thomas 1992, 47). An additional grant for five years was furnished on 30th February

1319 (ibid.). It has been suggested that the new town had reached the extent delimited by

the town wall before c. 1265 (Bradley 1985, 45). On 20th July 1378 Cashel was exempted

from paying murage at Clonmel, most likely because this toll was already being collected

within Cashel. The records of Cashel Corporation between 1673 and 1773 mention at

least five gates - Moor or Our Lady's gate to the N; the E gate variously called Canopy

Gate, Upper Gate and Dublin Gate; St. John's and Friar Gate to the S; and the W gate

variously called West Gate, Lower Gate and St. Nicholas' Gate (Thomas 1992, 47). In

1677 fortifications which had been erected in the area of Canopy Gate during Inchiquin's

seige were deemed dangerous '...and a great impediment to the passage through the said

gate for coaches, wagons and all sorts of carriages'. Another reference from the

Corporation Book for the same year notes that gates have to be repaired and

recommends that a 'little tottering tower in the south corner of St. John's churchyard,

being ready to fall, be pulled down...and the corner...be firmly built up with lime and

stone, suitable to the rest of the city wall'. In 1702 the inhabitants of the suburbs without

Canopy gate were granted permission to block up the said gate and create a new one -

'provided that the new and enlarged passage be secured with 'stone and good mortar' and

in 1732 it was decided to take down Lower Gate on the W side of the town as it was

apparently dangerous to passengers. By the late 18th century the same records tell us that

the walls and gates were long since fallen into decay. Although its line can be traced

through the use of 1st and 2nd ed. OS 6-inch maps and to a large extent follows the


113

townland boundary, only ten fragmentary lengths including the NW, SW and SE corners,

in varying condition, are now extant, and none of the gates mentioned in the

Corporation records survive. The wall (max. H 6.4m; max. T 3m) is composed of roughly

coursed limestone rubble, with occasional sandstone. Gregory's (2000, 286) excavation of

the town wall revealed how the wall was constructed with mortar-bonded, dressed, inner

and outer faces with a central fill of small stones and mortar. The wall has a pronounced

base-batter (H 2.9m; Wth 0.3m) and there is evidence of a wall-walk at the SW angle. The

best preserved continuous portion of the wall is in the southern sector, particularly the

SW angle and its extension eastwards to St. John's C of I graveyard (TS061-025035-), the

boundary of which is co-terminous with the town wall. In the NW sector there is a well-

preserved sally port or postern gate in the thickness of the base-batter. It comprises a

spilt-level round-headed arched passage (H 2m; D 3.1m; Wth 2.25m). The inner and

outer arches of the postern are faced with cut wedge-shaped limestone voussoirs. The

soffit of the lower inner arch bears impressions of plank centering while the slightly

higher outer arch soffit reveals remains of wicker-centering. Another sallyport with

'gothic mouldings' is believed to have existed in the SW corner of the town wall (Wyse-

Jackson 1949, 24), in the stretch of wall which is visible externally in the Hospital

grounds, though no evidence of this is now visible. There is a mural tower at the NW

angle and another was located at the SE angle (Gregory 2004, 474). A number of

archaeological excavations have revealed that there was a town fosse (Wth 3.6m-c. 6m; D

0.9-4m) running parallel to sections of the town wall (O'Donovan 1997, 100; Gregory

2000, 286). An excavation N of the hospital grounds revealed a large intramural fosse (L

c. 18m; Wth 2.5-3.2m; D c. 1.1m) which ran roughly parallel to the town wall, 5-6m from

it (O'Donnell 2004, 475).

TS061-025011- House - 18th/19th century

On the NW side of Main Street, Cashel, recessed from the road. A detached seven-bay

two-storey over half-basement former bishop's palace with dormer attic windows, built

in 1732 and now in use as a hotel. It has two prinicipal elevations with three-bay

breakfronts. It was designed by Edward Lovett Pearce for Archbishop Timothy Godwin.

The house has a hipped slate roof with brick chimneystacks having decorative brick

pilasters and slate-hung lower parts, dressed limestone parapet walls, carved limestone

dentilated cornice, cast-iron rainwater goods and having gable-fronted dormer windows

to both principal elevations. The front elevation has flemish bond red brick walls with a

dressed limestone platband between floors, sill courses, dressed limestone quoins to

ground floor and carved limestone string-course above rubble limestone basement walls.

The limestone walls to the rear and side elevations are roughly-dressed with similar

dressings to front elevation. There are timber sliding sash windows throughout, with

Serlian windows to front ground-floor end bays and square-headed windows elsewhere.

The front entrance doorway is approached by a flight of carved limestone steps with

cast-iron railings and comprises timber panelled double doors, spoked fanlight and

doorcase comprising carved limestone pilasters with carved limestone archivolt and


114

flanked by carved limestone engaged rusticated Ionic columns with carved limestone

architrave, fascia and dentillated pediment. The garden façade doorway has a flush

dressed limestone surround and lintel with square-headed timber panelled double doors

and overlight, approached by sweeping flight of carved limestone steps with cast-iron

railings. There is a multiple-bay two-storey addition to the SW with a two-bay two-storey

link to the house and with two-bay two-storey and three-bay single-storey additions to

the NE. The forecourt to the building has a former school and gate lodge facing each

other inside the entrance gates. The gates comprise carved limestone piers flanking

vehicular and pedestrian entrances, with carved limestone caps and plinths and cast-iron

gates, the latter surviving only to the pedestrian entrances. (National Inventory of

Architectural Heritage).

TS061-025012- Sheela-na-gig

Currently in the basement corridor of the Cashel Palace Hotel which is on the NW side

of Main Street, Cashel. This building was constructed in 1732 as a residential palace for

Archbishop Timothy Godwin. The crudely executed female exhibitionist figure has a

large round head with big protruding ears, a pronounced body with suggestions of a rib-

cage, rudimentary legs and long arms with hands in front touching the vulva. The facial

features are unclear but seem to include a broad proboscis-like nose. The figure is very

lightly incised on a block of limestone (dims. 0.6m x 0.35m) which had been re-used as a

quoin stone in the NE corner of the boiler house of the hotel which was constructed as

Cashel Diocesan Library c. 1733. The face of the stone is dressed with diagonal tooling.

The original location of the sheela-na-gig is unknown.

TS061-025032- Building

From April 1998 to January 1999 a new storm and foul network of pipes was laid in and

around parts of the town of Cashel (Henry 2000, 190). A licence was held to monitor all

ground disturbance works in association with this scheme (ibid.).

The area included a narrow lane which extends in a westerly direction away from the

walled town and at right angles to the W of Camus Road (ibid. 191). In addition to the

medieval deposits and cobbled surfaces a substantial wall (L 7m; average H 0.5m) was

uncovered in section(ibid.). Though of medieval date, the wall was pre-dated by organic

deposits and surfaces. It was not possible to determine the function of the wall though it

has been suggested by the excavator that it is possibly the wall of a large extra-mural

building (ibid.).

TS061-025085- Architectural Fragment

In the yard of Cashel Folk Museum, on the W side of Chapel Lane there are nine

sandstone architectural fragments. The fragments are chamfered and rebated and

originally functioned as window jambs. The jambs have been crudely reassembled in a


115

masonry wall to form a window. The fragments came from the convent grounds which is

on the site of the franciscan friary (TS061-025008-). Some of the fragments are dressed

with diagonal tooling.

TS061-178---- Bullaun stone (present location)

Currently housed in Cashel Folk Museum. This bullaun stone was found in Kilshane

townland where there is a medieval church (TS067-036----) and graveyard (TS067-

036001-). The precise original location is unknown. The bullaun consists of a roughly

round-shaped sandstone and quartz conglomerate boulder (dims 0.72m x0.72m; D

0.45m) with a deep circular depression (diam. 0.38m; D 0.29m) to one side of the

boulder. The side of the depression nearest the edge has broken away, reducing the

depth of the depression to 0.04m.

TS061-146---- Standing Stone (present location)

Formerly situated c. 3km SSW of Cashel in Ballinree townland. According to the

landowner the standing stone (TS060-119----) was removed c. 20 years ago as a result of

field clearance. The stone (H 2.14m; L 0.74m; Wth 0.24m) is currently embedded in a

concrete floor in the interior of the Cashel Folk Museum.

TS061-025027- Gatehouse

In 1988 an area outside the W end of the Hall of the Vicars Choral (TS061-025005-) was

excavated (Manning 1989, 46). Evidence for two periods of gateway (TS061-025026-)

were uncovered, one pre-dating the 15th-century Hall of the Vicars Choral and one

contemporary with it (ibid.). Foundations of a structure pre-dating the Hall of the Vicars

Choral and roughly contemporary with the earlier gate were also found (ibid.).

TS061-025024- Sheela-na-gig

Carved on an upper quoin on the S face of the SE angle of the E gable of the hall of the

Vicars Choral (TS061-025005-) on the Rock of Cashel. The sheela-na-gig (H 0.45m),

placed on its side, is contemporary with the building which is attributed to Archbishop

Richard O'Hedian (1406-40). It has a roughly round head with small eyes, a large nose

and a horizontal slit mouth and no neck. The squatting body has square shoulders or

arms bent at the elbow, with legs bent exposing the vulva and feet turned outwards.

TS061-025046- Graveyard

On St. Patricksrock, S and E of the cathedral (TS061-025003-). During excavations in

1993 burials were uncovered associated with the churches (TS061-025001-; TS061-

025028-; TS061-025029-) and cathedral (TS061-025003-) on St. Patricksrock (Hodkinson

1994, 73). Two areas lying between Cormac's Chapel and the chancel of the cathedral as

well as the interior of the N tower, chancel and c. one half of the nave of the chapel were

excavated down to subsoil (ibid.). In the area to the E of the N tower five phases of

graveyard were uncovered, four of which pre-date Cormac's Chapel. A short length of


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mortared stone wall underlying the eastern part of the cathedral wall is believed to be

part of an earlier church, probably contemporary with the third and fourth phase of the

graveyard. The graves had cut though and badly disturbed an underlying earlier

stratigraphy but no structures were identified as belonging to this earlier phase. The

foundations of the cathedral sacristy, built in the 17th century, truncated the upper layers

of the graveyard and provided a terminus ante quem for the skeletons. In the area to the

W of the N tower in the enclosed area outside the N door of the chapel, a single skeleton

was uncovered under a later structure while a later row of burials in the E of the area is

believed to date to between the building of the chapel and cathedral. The third area

excavated lay within the chapel. At the E end was a row of four postholes orientated

slightly askew to the chapel. The burials at Phase 2 of the graveyard, in the area E of the

N tower, were aligned on this structure and so it is interpreted as an early church. Further

to the E in the nave there were no contemporary structures but what appeared to be an

occupation surface was identified. There was a thick build-up of deposits over this

surface and against the posts of the church. The church seems to have fallen into disuse

and part of the area taken into use as a graveyard, possibly at Phase 3 or 4 of the

graveyard in the area E of the N tower. A series of burials at the E end is cut by the

foundation for the chapel. Much of the interior had been disturbed, first by 17th- and

18th-century burials and then, in more recent times, by features of unknown purpose.


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APPENDIX 2: ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR

BOARDWALK REVIEW


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ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: PROPOSED CASHEL TOWN … · INTRODUCTION _____1 2. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT...

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