3 & 4 Mill Lane, Leixlip, Co. Kildare. Archaeological Assessment. DAGDA Archaeological Projects Ltd.

Transcription

1 Planning Reference: 1610/04 3 & 4 Mill Lane, Leixlip, Co. Kildare. Archaeological Assessment By Ruth Elliott DAGDA Archaeological Projects Ltd. Client Declan Kenny Submission date: December 2004

2 3 & 4 Mill Lane, Leixlip, Co. Kildare. Archaeological Assessment Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. By Ruth Elliott, Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. Copies of this report have been presented to: The Client: Declan Kenny Planning Authority: Kildare County Council Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government National Museum of Ireland Heritage Authorities may be consulted regarding any queries at: Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Dun Sceine Harcourt Lane Dublin 2 Antiquities Division National Museum of Ireland Kildare Street Dublin 2 Tel: (01) Tel: (01) The entirety of this report is copyright. Reproduction of any material contained within this report will require the written permission of Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. 2

3 CONTENTS 1. Introduction 4 2. Record of Monuments and Places 5 3. Topographical Files 5 4. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage 5 5. Excavations Bulletins 6 6. Cartographic Research 9 7. Archaeological and Historical Research Site Examination Proposed Development Conclusions and Recommendations References 20 FIGURES Figure 1. Extract from Noble and Keenan s map of County Kildare, Figure 2. Extract from Alex Taylor s map of County Kildare, Figure 3. Extract from 1 st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1837 (published 1838). 22 Figure 4. Extract from Ordnance Survey map, 1908 (published 1910). 22 Figure 5. Site plan with proposed patio outline and proposed test trench location. After Kevin Roche, Drg. No. PPL Figure 6. Proposed elevation. After Kevin Roche, Drg. No. PPL PLATES Cover Plate. 3 & 4 Mill Lane. 2 Plate 1. Mill Lane cottages viewed from the northeast leading down to the Black Castle. 24 Plate 2. Cottages 5 & 6 showing two different styles of construction. 24 Plate 3. Modern workshop viewed from the southwest. 24 Plate 4. Garden at rear of Cottages 3 & Plate 5. Low retaining wall viewed from the northwest. 24 Plate 6. Medieval masonry blocks adjacent to garden pond. 24 3

4 1. Introduction An archaeological assessment, in advance of testing, was a request for Further Information issued by Kildare County Council with respect to an application for planning permission for the site at 3 & 4 Mill Lane, Leixlip, Co. Kildare (Cover Pl.). Planning permission is sought to demolish a modern workshop on the site and to reconstruct two cottages in the location, incorporating existing façades (Figs 5 & 6) which are listed for protection in the Leixlip Local Area Plan 2002 (Ref IP 53). A site examination was carried out on the 13 th of December 2004 to identify any upstanding archaeological remains that may survive and to document the existing structures that will be affected by the proposed development. In addition, site specific research was carried out under the following headings: The Record of Monuments and Places and the Urban Archaeological Survey, National Monuments Section, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG). Topographical Files, National Museum of Ireland (NMI). National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH). Excavations Bulletins: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland. Cartographic research. Archaeological and historical research. The following archaeological assessment comprises the details and results of this work. 4

5 2. Record of Monuments and Places Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. The Record of Monuments and Places is an archive of maps, catalogues and files relating to archaeological sites nationwide, compiled by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland and held by the National Monuments Section of the DoEHLG. Leixlip itself is listed as an archaeological town (KD011-04), the sites and monuments within it documented within the Urban Archaeological Survey of County Kildare. The Black Castle (KD ) lies adjacent to the site at Mill Lane and is listed as a tower house with a number of documentary references. The Black Castle, Leixlip town and the sites of interest within it are dealt with in detail below (Section 7). 3. Topographical Files The Topographical Files are an index of artifacts and finds that have been presented to the National Museum of Ireland. These files were consulted for reference to the site of the proposed development but no finds were listed under the townland of Leixlip. 4. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) was consulted for reference to the site of the proposed development. Mill Street itself was listed, as was the Black Castle. Mill Street, Leixlip, Kildare. Reg. No Three road fronting terraced houses described as three-bay, single-storey, rubble stone houses dating to circa Originally part of a row of ten, these three were individually renovated in the 1980s. They feature gable-ended roofs, square-headed openings, stone sills and yellow brick dressings. The houses were built as workers cottages for employees at the nearby mill. They represent an early small-scale residential development in the 5

6 locality the rubble stone construction is representative of the traditional economic method of building in the late eighteenth century (Pl. 1). Black Castle, Mill Street, Leixlip, Kildare. Reg. No The Black Castle is listed as a three-bay, three-storey house dating to circa 1870 and incorporating the fabric of a medieval tower house, circa 1550 in date. The hipped roof is dated to the 1980s. It features a three-storey, bowed projecting bay at the rear of the building. Features include square-headed window openings and a round-headed door with a fanlight, approached by a flight of steps. The mid 16 th century tower house is believed to incorporate the fabric of an earlier structure dating to the mid twelfth century. The fabric of the upstanding structure is predominantly 19 th century in date and the bowed projecting bay to the rear is typical of this period (Pl. 1). 5. Excavations Bulletins Excavations Bulletins, the summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, were consulted for reference to archaeological excavations in the vicinity of the proposed development. The following results were found. Silleachain Lane, Leixlip. 1995:155. Licence No. 95E246. This listing refers to archaeological testing carried out by Clare Mullins on the site of a proposed development on Silleachain Lane, perpendicular to Mill Street. Three trial trenches were excavated on site and no features of archaeological significance were uncovered. Leixlip. 1997:274. Licence No. 97E0367. Archaeological monitoring was carried out by Mary McMahon for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. during service improvements throughout Leixlip town. A short stretch of masonry wall and two cobbled surfaces were revealed outside St. Mary s Church. In addition, an 18 th century stone-lined well was revealed on the southern side of the Main Street, 52m east of the Health Centre. 6

7 St. Catherine s Park, Leixlip. 1997:277. Licence No. 97E0428. Archaeological monitoring of ground works for a sewerage scheme was carried out by Anne Connolly of Archaeological Services Unit Ltd. for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd. A number of features were uncovered including a box drain; a wall and gravel surface of indeterminate date; two associated walls and a cobble surface. Main Street, Leixlip. 1998:321. Licence No. 98E0103 Claire Mullins carried out archaeological testing at a site on the Main Street. Three trenches were excavated but no archaeological stratigraphy was uncovered. Two sherds of medieval pottery were retrieved from the topsoil of one of the trenches. 18 Main Street, Leixlip. 1998:322. Licence No. 98E0173 Archaeological testing was carried out at 18 Main Street by Martin E. Byrne. Three trenches revealed no material of archaeological significance. Captain s Inn, Main Street, Leixlip. 2000:0495. Licence No. 00E0714. Ronan Swan carried out archaeological testing at the Captain s Inn public house on Leixlip Main Street. No archaeological stratigraphy was found surviving on the site. 6 The Mall, Leixlip. 2001:657. Licence No. 01E0643 Archaeological testing was carried out by Ruth Elliott for Archaeological Development Services Ltd. at 6 The Mall, Leixlip. Three test trenches were excavated on the site and a medieval layer was found at the base of Trench 3 at a depth of 0.75m. A number of sherds of medieval pottery and a bone comb were retrieved from the site. 6 The Mall, Leixlip. 2001:658. Archaeological monitoring was carried out by John O Connor for Archaeological Development Service Ltd. at 6 The Mall. No archaeological material was uncovered and the archaeological layer revealed during testing was not attained during monitoring. 7

8 7 The Mall, Leixlip. 2001:659. Archaeological testing was carried out at 7 The Mall, Leixlip. Two trenches were excavated and a medieval layer was revealed at a depth of 1m within Trench B. 8

9 6. Cartographic Research Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. The following cartographic sources were examined for reference to the site of the proposed development. Noble and Keenan s, County of Kildare, Noble and Keenan s map of 1752 depicts a rectangular building roughly in the location of the Black Castle and adjacent to the symbol for a mill. Both are shown on the northern side of the River Liffey with a park to the north and St. Catharines priory to the east. There is no indication of a road along the line of Mill Lane. Representations of Leixlip Castle, St. Mary s Church and Confey Castle (labeled Confy ) are shown (Fig. 1). John Rocque, An Actual Survey of the County of Dublin, John Rocque s 1760 map of Dublin includes Leixlip, Castletown and Carton. It does not show the site of the Black Castle as an occupied dwelling but as a number of small plots which may have included a derelict castle. There is a road illustrated on the line of Mill Lane although it is not labeled as such. A thin line adjacent to the southern side of the road may represent a feature such as a drain but there are no cottages depicted. St. Katherines park is shown and a linen printing industry towards the direction of Lucan. Lieutenant Alex Taylor, A Map of the County of Kildare, Taylor s 1783 map does not appear to illustrate the Black Castle specifically, although Mill Lane is there (unlabeled) and a short black rectangle, possibly representing a row of houses, is shown on the southern side of the road to the west of later Silleachain Lane. It is possible that this included the Black Castle or its ruins. A house at the end of Mill Lane may represent a mill building and a circular symbol adjacent to this on the river may be a mill of some description. This is the first of the maps to illustrate the River Silleachean which may at this stage have already been artificially diverted as it seems to disappear towards the southwestern end of St. Catherines park. Leixlip Castle, St. Mary s Church and Leixlip House are all shown but not labeled as such (Fig. 2). 9

10 First edition Ordnance Survey map, Sheet II, Co. Kildare. In 1837, the Ordnance Survey have illustrated the site of the Black Castle as an L-shaped building on a long thin strip of land leading down to the Liffey. There are buildings to the east and west of the Black Castle suggesting cottages or houses, but there is not a continuous row at this stage. There are no property divisions at the rear of these buildings to the east and there are no structures in the location of 3 & 4 Mill Lane. A corn mill and iron works are depicted at the end of Mill Lane and a distillery at the western end of the town. Leixlip Castle and Leixlip House are both marked. The Silleachain river is shown running along the western border of Catherines Park and possibly being culverted under the road at the southwest and under Mill Lane itself (Fig. 3). Ordnance Survey map, 1908 (published 1910). Sheet XI, Co. Kildare. The Black Castle is marked and labeled on the 1908 Ordnance Survey map. It has a similar long thin strip of land running down to the Liffey at the rear. Mill Lane is marked and there is a continuous row of dwellings on either side of the Black Castle. On this edition of the map, there are property boundaries marked at the rear of these buildings. A Saw Mill is shown at the eastern end of Mill Lane adjacent to a property called Marshfield House and the Mill Race is marked. The Silleachain river is shown (but again unlabeled) and here it is seen to be culverted at the southwestern corner of St. Catherine s Park and along the northern line of Mill Lane towards the Saw Mill and the Liffey. Leixlip House and Castle are shown in the town and labeled as such. There is a disused quarry and gravel pit to the west but at this stage there is no distillery shown (Fig. 4). Ordnance Survey map, 1908 (printed 1953). Sheet 11-IIId, Leixlip 1:1250. This is almost identical to the above map but at a much larger scale. On this edition the Black Castle lacks outhouses that were shown in the 1910 edition. Ordnance Survey map circa, 1975 untilised by the Urban Archaeological Survey. On this edition, there are gaps in the rows of cottages on either side of the Black Castle. Two cottages appear to be missing entirely on the eastern side and there are quite a number of changes on the western side. 10

11 7. Archaeological and Historical Research Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. Historical Leixlip, northeast within county Kildare, occupies a narrow strip of land defined topographically by a high ridge on the north, the River Liffey on the south and the Rye Water on the west (Figs. 1-4). Leixlip is the only inland Irish town with a Norse name, Lax-hlaup meaning Salmon Leap and this refers to a waterfall that existed on the Liffey south of the town, prior to the construction of a hydroelectric power station in the location. Giraldus Cambrensis used the latin, Saltus Salmonis to refer to the area in the 12 th century and it is from this term that the baronies of North and South Salt derive. Although medieval documents generally referred to the town as Saltus Salmonum, le Lexlep occurred as early as (Bradley, Halpin & King, 304; Curran 2001, 1). The Scandinavian placename suggests there may have been a Viking settlement at Leixlip and indeed it has been proposed that the adjacent townland of Confey may have represented Ceannfuait, a longphort established by Sitric in 915 (Bradley, Halpin & King, 304). Alternately, it has been suggested that a mound at Cooldrinagh, in the bow of the Liffey on the Dublin side of the river, may be the site of an original Viking settlement. Leixlip is thought to have been the westernmost point of the Dyflinarskiri, the 9 th century Viking territory that stretched from modern day Skerries to Arklow (Curran 2001, 1-4). During the late 12 th and early 13 th centuries Leixlip was also known by the name Ernia or Hernie, possibly derived from An Urnaidhe or The Oratory, which may indicate a pre- Norman ecclesiastical site. However, the earliest definite settlement evidence for Leixlip occurs in the late 12 th century (Bradley, Halpin & King, 305). Giraldus Cambrensis accounted that the the cantred of O ffelan nearest to Dublin, formerly held by Robert FitzStephen, was granted by Strongbow to Adam de Hereford prior to 1212 (Killanin & Duignan, 1967). Adam divided the lands of Cloncurry, Oughterard, Kill and Downings with his brothers but retained Leixlip for himself where he established a borough and erected a castle at an early date. The castle was located on a promontory southwest of the village overlooking the junction of the Rye Water with the River Liffey and the earliest structure was probably a late 12 th century motte (Bradley, Halpin & King, 305 & 309). 11

12 In the mid 13 th century, the manor of Leixlip was passed from Stephen de Hereford (Adam s son) to the Pippard family. Ralph Pippard granted all of his Irish castles and manors to his son John in 1294, who returned Leixlip to his father three years later. In 1302 Ralph granted his manors in Ireland to the King and over the following thirty years both construction work and repairs were carried out on Leixlip castle. Custody of manor and castle were given to John de Grauntsete in 1331 for a period of ten years but were passed to Roger Outlaw, Prior of Kilmainham in Further works were carried out on the castle over the following decade and for over a century after, it remained in the keeping of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (ibid. 309). In 1479/80 Leixlip was passed to Thomas Daniel, Lord of Rathwire and in 1496 Henry VII granted it to Gearóid Mór Fitzgerald, the eighth Earl of Kildare. The Fitzgeralds had to forteit the land in 1536 after the rebellion of Silken Thomas. Subsequently it passed through the hands of Matthew King, John Alen and William Vernon (ibid. 310), until in 1569 it was granted to Sir Nicholas White, Master of the Rolls, whose family held it up to the 18 th century. In 1731 it was sold to Rt. Hon. William Conolly, the nephew and heir of Speaker Conolly, and it remained in the Conolly family until 1914 (Bence-Jones 1978, 183). There were two churches in Leixlip at the time of the Normal invasion, the church of St. Columba in Confey (adjacent to the ruins of Confey Castle) and the church of the Salmon Leap (The church of Blessed Mary or St. Mary of Hernie). It is thought that both lay on the sites of earlier fortifications (Curran 2001, 3). St. Mary s was granted by Adam de Hereford, along with a burgage within the town, to the Abbey of St. Thomas at some stage prior to This grant did not include the chapel of St. Patrick in Leixlip Castle, which continued to function throughout the Middle Ages. In Edward II granted the chapel to Andrew of Kent, it was granted to Henry Poule in 1406 and Thomas Darcas in Adam de Hereford also granted a burgage in Leixlip to St. Mary s Abbey in Dublin, which they still held at the time of the Dissolution. This suggests that Leixlip, although burned by Edward Bruce s army in 1317, was relatively undisturbed throughout the Middle Ages (Bradley, Halpin & King, 312). 12

13 There were two priories in Leixlip, both founded by canons of the order of St. Victor. St. Wolstan s was established in 1202 by Adam de Hereford and St. Katherine s in 1219 by de Hereford and Warrisius de Peche, the Lord of Lucan (Curran 2001, 4). The latter was sited on a low plateau above the River Liffey northeast of the village. In 1236 it was subordinated to St. Thomas Abbey in Dublin and united as a conventual dependancy in In 1323, due to its impoverished state, it was appropriated to St. Thomas as a nonconventual cell. In 1539 it was granted rent-free, with attached lands, to a former canon of St. Thomas, Patrick Fynne, on condition that he maintain the abbey buildings. The surrender of St. Thomas Abbey listed the church of St. Ketherine, near the Salmon Leap and its site was granted to Sir Nicholas White in St. Catherine s well, situated on the top of the hill north of the priory site, is covered by two grotto shaped structures. The site of the church is occupied by a roofless house, built of uncoursed limestone and brick (Bradley, Halpin & King, 320). This was originally a residence designed by Francis Johnston in 1798 (Killanin & Duignan, 1967). During the Counter Reformation, the local people were said to have attended mass at an altar built of turf sods in St. Shaughlin s Glen. A small church, the Penal Church was built there in the mid 18 th century and this served the catholic community until the emancipation in 1829, at which stage a larger church was built at Castletown (Curran 2001, 13). The Black Castle, located at the eastern end of the town on Mill Lane, is first referred to in 1562 when it was granted to William Vernan. In 1570 it was passed to Nicholas White and an inquisition of 1621 stated that the Earl of Kildare held a castle at Leixlip. This may have been the Black Castle, as the Civil Survey of 1654 recorded that it was situated on the lands of the Earl of Kildare (Bradley, Halpin & King, 307). Cartographic evidence suggests that the structure had fallen into ruin by 1760 and, although its form is indistinct on Taylor s 1783 map (Fig. 2), it must have been rebuilt shortly after as it was occupied by the military in 1798 and a gallows erected near it (Fitzgerald , 340). The long avenue running east from Mill Lane has been known as the Black Avenue since this period (Curran 2001, 15). At the beginning of the 20 th century the site was described 13

14 as a residence so modernised as to be indistinguishable except to one well acquainted with the locality and now lacks any diagnostic medieval features (Fitzgerald , 341). It is thought that a vaulted cellar may lie closed up under the upstanding house (An Foras Forbartha 1985). Records tell that in 1455 Thomas Bath, receiver of the manor of Leixlip for the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, was discharged due to negligence. One of the reasons was allowing a watermill at Leixlip to be wasted and destroyed. The records of Leixlip frequently mention mills throughout the Middle Ages and, with the rivers Liffey and Rye providing a constant supply of fast flowing water, milling was an important part of the town s economy. The earliest reference to a mill is a grant by Adam de Hereford before 1212 of a burgage near the burgage of St. Thomas, by one facing the mill. In s 6d were spent repairing mills and bringing a millstone to Leixlip. There are records of more expenditure on mills between 1325 and A mill on the Liffey was mentioned in grants to William Vernon in 1562 and Nicholas White in (Bradley, Halpin and King, ). The Civil Survey of 1654 made reference to a corn and cloth mill on the lands of Lady Alen of St. Wolstans. The mid 18 th century saw an iron works, corn mill and fabric printing industry located in Leixlip. The iron works, closed in 1856, were replaced by a corn mill nearby in There was later a woollen mill and flour mill in Leixlip in the 19 th century (Curran 2001, 16-20). The most famous industry established in Leixlip was that of Guinness brewery. Local tradition tells that Archbishop Price, who died in 1752, left 100 to his servant Richard Guinness and a similar sum to his son, Arthur. Price is also said to have left a secret recipe for brewing a very dark beer (I.C.A. 1989, 6). Guinness Brewery was established in 1756 on the Main Street by Richard and Arthur Guinness. Leixlip was also the home of Rye Vale Distillery which was producing up to 20,000 gallons of whiskey per year by the 1830s (Curran 2001, 21). A Mesolithic core axe found in a garden at Leixlip is the only prehistoric evidence so far uncovered in the town. (Bradley, Halpin & King, 320). 14

15 8. Site Examination Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. The site, examined on the 13 th of December 2004, lies at the western end of Mill Lane, adjacent to the Black Castle. Only the façades of 3 & 4 Mill Lane have survived and these front a modern, concrete built workshop (approximately 12 by 6.5m) which lies in the garden of the Black Castle (Pl. 3). The road fronting façades are those of singlestorey, rubble-built cottages. They are identical in style to the neighbouring cottages (No. 5) where the windows and doors are topped by a slight arch. In contrast, Nos. 6, 7 and 8 have brick-lined, square-headed openings and appear to represent a different phase of construction (Pl. 2). A set of large wooden gates divide two further sets of preserved, free-standing cottage façades, which now act as a wall for the Black Castle s garden (Cover Pl.). The Black Castle remains as described by Fitzgerald ( , 341). It is a three-storey, pebble-dashed house with Georgian style windows and the semi-circular Georgian bay at the rear. Only the bulky proportions and rectangular shape testify to its former incarnation as a tower house (Pl. 1). The site is accessed through the large wooden gates, which lead to a graveled car parking area with the workshop to the left and Black Castle to the right. A concrete pavement running along the rear of the workshop is flanked by the remains of a low stone wall, roughly 15m long, 1m in average height and 1.87m in maximum height. It is uncoursed and comprised of loosely cemented limestone rubble (Pl. 5). With a severe overhang, this retains the soil of the terraced back garden. The garden area has dimensions of approximately 14 by 14m and is mostly covered by lawn, although various garden features such as flower beds, pathways and a pond are present. The garden is bordered at the rear by a high granite wall which may date to the first property boundaries after 1837 and before 1908 (Pl. 4). No in situ features of archaeological interest were visible above ground on the site. Two rounded masonry blocks with apertures in their upper surfaces were found flanking the pond and these had a medieval appearance (Pl. 6). They were not original to the site, however, and had been salvaged by the owner from a previous development elsewhere. 15

16 Although not certain, Mr. Kenny thinks the blocks may have come from a site in Moynalvey, Co. Meath. 16

17 9. The Proposed Development. Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. The major aspects of the proposed development and its archaeological implications are outlined as follows: Demolition of the existing modern workshop. If this is undertaken with care, it will not adversely affect the original cottage façades. Demolition of the low retaining wall at the rear of the workshop. This wall is not considered of archaeological significance and its surviving remains do not appear structurally sound. Excavation of the garden soil at the rear of the workshop to create an L-shaped patio 12.5m in maximum length and 3.5m in maximum width. Archaeological testing is planned to determine the nature and archaeological potential of the soil deposits in the location. Construction of two cottages in the location of the existing workshop covering a combined area of 12.5 by 7m. It is proposed to retain the existing façades and restore numbers 3 & 4 to have the appearance and character of the original cottages. Although a mezzanine level is planned, this will not be visible from the road frontage. Masonry from the wall at the back will be re-used to build a new retaining wall around the border of the proposed patio (Figs. 5 & 6). 17

18 10. Conclusions and Recommendations¹ Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. The original façades at 3 & 4 Mill Lane represent mill worker s cottages that, according to cartographic research, date to a period of construction after 1837 and before They differ slightly in style from Nos. 6, 7 and 8 which are dated to circa 1775 by the NIAH. The row of cottages are representative of a tradition that was very significant in Leixlip town throughout history, milling. From the 13 th century onwards, mills played an important part in the town s economy and a mill has existed at the end of Mill Lane from at least Five of the ten cottages have been restored to their original appearance and are currently lived in. The façades of a further four have been preserved and remain upstanding (Pl. 1). Restoration of 3 & 4 Mill Lane, if undertaken with care and reference to original character, will certainly be a positive contribution to the historical town of Leixlip. The property lies adjacent to the Black Castle, which is predominantly of 19 th century construction. It is known to incorporate the fabric of a medieval tower house, however cartographic evidence suggests that the tower house had fallen into ruin by 1760 and it is uncertain how much of it had survived at that stage to be incorporated. It must have been rebuilt by 1798 as it was occupied by the military in that year and a gallows erected nearby. The NIAH suggest that there may have originally been a 12 th century structure on the site although no other documentary reference to this has been found. The site examination did not reveal any in situ archaeological features above ground on the site. Two rounded masonry blocks with a medieval appearance were found flanking the garden pond (Pl. 6). They were not original to the site, however, and had been salvaged by the owner from a previous development, possibly at Moynalvey, Co. Meath. These blocks are utilised as garden features and will not be damaged during the proposed development. Although archaeological testing at nearby Silleachain Lane did not produce any material of archaeological significance, it is a possibility that material relating to 12 th and 16 th century structures may be uncovered during excavations on the site at Mill Lane. The original site of the 18 th century gallows is uncertain and evidence pertaining to this historical period could plausibly exist on the site. Archaeological testing has been ¹All recommendations are subject to the approval of the relevant heritage authorities, the DoEHLG and National Museum of Ireland. 18

19 requested by the planning authority and this will certainly provide information as to the nature of the soil deposits contained on the site. As the area of excavation is limited, only one test trench is proposed running perpendicular to the low retaining wall in the location of the proposed patio (Fig. 5). 19

20 11. References Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. An Foras Forbartha Comments on some items of Architectural and Historical interest in Leixlip, County Kildare. Bence-Jones, M Burke s Guide to Country Houses I. London. Bennet, I. (ed.) Excavations Bulletins: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland. Wordwell Ltd. Bradley, Halpin and King. The Urban Archaeological Survey. County Kildare 3. Office of Public Works. Curran, L Leixlip, Co. Kildare: Early Settlement and Society. Aspects of Leixlip: Four Historical Essays. L.P.S.V. Fitzgerald, Lord Walter Queries / Leixlip Castles J.K.A.S. 3. Irish Countrywomen s Association 1989 Leixlip a local history. Leixlip Guild. Killanin & Duignan 1967 The Shell Guide to Ireland. Ebury Press. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH). National Monuments Section Record of Monuments and Places. Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG). Topographical Files, National Museum of Ireland (NMI). 20

21 N Black Castle? Figure 1. Extract from Noble & Keenan s map of County Kildare, N Possible site of Black Castle Figure 2. Extract from Alex Taylor s map of County Kildare,

22 N Approximate Site Location Figure 3. Extract from 1 st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1837 (published 1838). N Site Location 0 200m Figure 4. Extract from Ordnance Survey map, 1908 (published 1910). 22

23 Approximate line of existing low wall Approximate line of proposed patio Extent of existing workshop Proposed test trench 0 20m Figure 5. Site Plan with proposed patio outline and proposed test trench location. After Kevin Roche, Drg. No. PPL-02. Figure 6. Proposed elevation. After Kevin Roche, Drg. No. PPL

24 Dagda Archaeological Projects Ltd. Plate 1. Mill Lane cottages viewed from the northeast leading down to the Black Castle. Plate 2. Cottages 5 & 6 showing two different styles of construction. Plate 3. Modern workshop viewed from the southwest. Plate 4. Garden at rear of Cottages 3 & 4. Plate 5. Low retaining wall viewed from the northwest. Plate 6. Medieval masonry blocks adjacent to garden pond. 24