The Links, Portmarnock

Area

10,274 m² (1.03 ha, 2.54 acres)

Buildings

26 buildings touch it, 2,598 m² on the ground

Zoning

G4 OS - Open Space (The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029) The objective
R2 RS - Residential (The Fingal Development Plan 2023 – 2029) The objective

Townland

Portmarnock

Planning applications on this parcel

• 28 Nov 2024Grant permission

  Proposed alterations to previously approved planning permission F22B/0

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F24A/1066E

• 20 Dec 2017Approved by an bord pleanala

  150 no. units (52 no. duplex apartments and 98 no. houses

  Strategic housing development · Fingal County Council, SHD/002/17

• 30 May 2013Withdraw application

  The initial phase (Phase A) of an integrated residential neighbourhood

  Extension of duration of permission · Fingal County Council, F07A/0947/E1

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches this parcel.

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 7 recorded monuments.

• DU015-014 Mound
  Description

  This flat-topped mound is located on a slight rise and enjoys extensive views of the coast but restricted views to the north. The mound is oval in plan (dims. 27m N-S; 14m E-W; H 3.5m). Morris (1939, 182-3) has associated this site with the burying place of 'Maine' 'son of Medb and Ailill' which is mentioned in the Metrical Dindsenchus. Originally the monument may have been considerably larger as according to a local landowner it was severely damaged in the early 1970s when an attempt was made to level it during field clearance works. In 2007 vegetation was removed and a topographical survey of the mound undertaken. Two test-trenches were hand-excavated (Licence no. 07E0754) into the eastern side of the mound and revealed the mound had been severely disturbed by modern activity. Intact mound deposits did survive and comprised dumped clay that contained infrequent pieces of shell and charcoal as well as occasional sherds of medieval pottery, suggesting that the mound may in fact be medieval in date and may be associated with the medieval village to the north-east (Moriarty 2008:477 www.excavations.ie). test excavation south of the mound identified an oval enclosure, the possible bailey associated with the mound. A landscaping plan was developed for the mound's preservation in open space but the development has yet to take place. In 2016 archaeological excavation by Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd under licence No. 16E0613 was carried out on the cropmark site (DU015-014001-) to the SE of the mound and the results were sumarised as follows; 'A residential development has been completed where the monument stood. The northern portion of the monument is preserved in situ within a 20m buffer zone around mound DU015-014----, which has been developed as a green space with play area and information signage. The majority of the monument has been removed under excavation licence 16E0613 in advance of development. The line of the enclosure ditch where it is preserved below ground within the buffer zone around mound DU015-014----, is delineated by hard and soft landscaping. The site was visible on aerial photography and was tested (07E0574, Moriarty). Further testing was carried out during the excavation of an adjacent enclosure (16E0101, McLoughlin) and with the exception of the portion preserved in situ with the buffer zone for the mound, full excavation was carried out under licence ref 16E0613. Carried out pre-planning. The Phase 1B (Area 3) enclosure site has now been backfilled and built upon. The northern portion of the enclosure within the 20m buffer zone area surrounding the upstanding mound (DU015‐014---) remains in situ and will be incorporated into the landscaping plans for the mound. These works will be archaeologically monitored. In 2000 a programme of archaeological investigation under licence No. 00E0732 was carried out to determine the extent of archaeological remains in advance of a planning application for development on lands owned by Sherman Oaks Ltd. Testing was carried out around known monument DU015‐014----, and comprised five test‐trenches excavated 20m from the base of the Portmarnock mound (DU015‐014----) to establish a suitable buffer zone around this monument. No archaeological finds or features were revealed in test‐trenches 1–4. Trench 5 was specifically placed to test the location of a possible enclosure indicated on aerial photography. A small portion of a ditch‐type feature was uncovered 50m south‐east of the mound in trench 5. This feature measured 1.9m wide and 0.32m deep and contained occasional flecks of charcoal, small fragments of bone and fragments of shell. Further investigation was recommended to establish if this feature was of archaeological significance, however this feature did not appear to correspond with the enclosure indicated on aerial photography. In 2002 a geophysical survey was carried out on the Sherman Oaks Ltd owned lands including the Phase 1B excavation area. Nicholls noted several anomalies of probable interest to the southeast of DU015‐014---. A detailed survey was undertaken in Area 3 to investigate these responses and the survey area was expanded in an effort to determine the location of an elliptical cropmark evident on aerial photographs. A concentration of weak ditch‐ and pit‐type responses were recorded in the eastern half of the survey area, and numerous linear trends were also apparent in the data. Together, these responses corresponded with the approximate location of the elliptical cropmark noted to the south of DU015‐014----. One faint curvilinear ditch type response approximately 20m from the south eastern corner of the sample block may indicate the remains of a former enclosure ditch. In 2008 small scale test excavations were undertaken within the footprint of the mound DU015‐014--- (Moriarty 2009) and a detailed topographical survey of the site was undertaken as part of these works. The mound measures c. 27m by 14m and is at least 3m in height. Two test trenches revealed severe modern disturbance of the mound. The intact material contained some shell and occasional sherds of medieval pottery which led the excavator to suggest a later date for this feature than previously thought (ibid.)' (Wallace 2000; Moriarty 2009; McLoughlin 2019). See attached photographs and plan of site courtesy of and © Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. Moriarty, C. 2009 Final Report Archaeological Excavations at Portmarnock Mound (DU015-014----) and the Maynetown enclosure (DU015‐055----), Co. Dublin (Licence No.: 07E0574). Unpublished report prepared by Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd for Ballymore Residential Ltd. McLoughlin, G. 2019 Final Archaeological Excavation Report, Station Road, Portmarnock, Excavation Licence No. 16E0613. Unpublished archaeological report submitted by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. to the National Monuments Service on behalf of Sherman Oaks Ltd. Nicholls, J. 2002 Geophysical Survey: Baldoyle/Portmarnock Co. Dublin. Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd. Licence No. 02R0020. Wallace, A. 2000 Archaeological assessment: Portmarnock mound, DU015:014, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin. Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd. (unpublished). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Revised by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. Date of revised upload: 20 June 2023

• DU015-014001 Enclosure
  Description

  Cropmark of enclosure located SE of a mound (DU015-014----) annotated 'Mote' on Cassini ed. OSi 6-inch map. This enclosure is visible on aerial photographs (Google Earth 17/07/2006; Bing, accessed 31 January 2015) and a test-excavation (Licence no. 07E0574) as part of archaeological investigations of the mound (DU015-014----) were carried out in 2007. It was suggested that the enclosure or cropmark may have served as a bailey for the 'Mote' located to the N (Moriarty C. 2008:477 www.excavations.ie). In 2016 archaeological excavation by Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd under licence No. 16E0613 was carried out on this cropmark and the results were sumarised as follows; 'A residential development has been completed where the monument stood. The northern portion of the monument is preserved in situ within a 20m buffer zone around mound DU015-014, which has been developed as a green space with play area and information signage. The majority of the monument has been removed under excavation licence 16E0613 in advance of development. The line of the enclosure ditch where it is preserved below ground within the buffer zone around mound DU015-014----, is delineated by hard and soft landscaping. The site was visible on aerial photography and was tested (07E0574, Moriarty). Further testing was carried out during the excavation of an adjacent enclosure (16E0101, McLoughlin) and with the exception of the portion preserved in situ with the buffer zone for the mound, full excavation was carried out under licence ref 16E0613. Carried out pre-planning. The Phase 1B enclosure (DU015-014001-, 16E0613) was slightly elliptical or sub-circular in plan and measured a maximum external diameter of 77m east-west x 70m north-south (68m east-west x 60m north-south internal diameter), with an entrance to the east. The ditch cut was substantial, measuring up to 5.5m wide and 1.65m deep. Eight phases of activity were identified at the site, ranging from Mesolithic, early Bronze Age, late Bronze Age, Iron Age, Late Iron Age/early medieval transition, early Medieval (pre c.800 AD, early medieval (post c.800 AD) and modern. The bulk of the activity belonged to the late Iron Age / early medieval transition phases (c.400 – 600 AD). Finds recovered from the enclosure ditch during the excavation include early medieval imported pottery (LRA 1 and E ware), wooden artefacts from the base of the ditch, stone tools and worked antler artefacts. A huge volume of animal bone was recovered from the ditch including cetacean bones, and similar to the nearby Phase 1A enclosure (16E0101) the proportion of cattle was very high and suggestive of feasting. Cereal drying (kilns) and metalworking activity were evident on site and there was one adult male inhumation in the interior of the enclosure (radiocarbon dated to AD 410-607). The excavated portion of this site has now been built on and the northern part of the enclosure is preserved within a 20m buffer zone around the upstanding Portmarnock mound (DU015-014----). Two further enclosures have been excavated in the same field, 130m to the southwest (16E0101, Phase 1A) and 200m to the south (19E0303, Phase 1C). All three enclosures should be interpreted as part of one inter-related group and although the focus of activity may have shifted from one enclosure to another at various times, there certainly does appear to have been some overlap in their use. Another enclosure (DU015-055----) in Maynetown, 550m to the southeast, has also been subjected to targeted testing (22E0509) and also appears to be part of this cluster of associated enclosures. The clustering of enclosures in such a small area, associated with feasting evidence and a general lack of habitation evidence, the presence of some high status & late roman imported finds, a burial and an upstanding mound have led to the interpretation of this this cluster of sites, as being part of a possible assembly landscape' (McLoughlin 2019). See attached photographs and plan of site courtesy of and © Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. Moriarty, C. 2009 Final Report Archaeological Excavations at Portmarnock Mound (DU015-014----) and the Maynetown enclosure (DU015‐055----), Co. Dublin (Licence No.: 07E0574). Unpublished report prepared by Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd for Ballymore Residential Ltd. McLoughlin, G. 2019 Final Archaeological Excavation Report, Station Road, Portmarnock, Excavation Licence No. 16E0613. Unpublished archaeological report submitted by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. to the National Monuments Service on behalf of Sherman Oaks Ltd. Nicholls, J. 2002 Geophysical Survey: Baldoyle/Portmarnock Co. Dublin. Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd. Licence No. 02R0020. Compiled by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. Date of revised upload: 20 June 2023

• DU015-014002 Kiln - corn-drying
  Description

  A residential development has been completed where the monument stood. Nothing remains. Entirely removed by excavation under licence 16E0613 in advance of development. The results of this excavation were summarised by Gill McLoughlin as follows; 'The excavation comprised the remains of a large sub‐surface ditched enclosure (DU015‐014001-) adjacent to the upstanding Portmarnock mound (DU015‐014----), east of the railway line at Portmarnock and south of Station Road. The archaeological excavation took place over fourteen weeks from the 9th January 2017 with a team of ten archaeologists and six general operatives. Excavation at the site followed previous archaeological monitoring and excavation in relation to Phase 1A of a permitted development immediately to the west of the enclosure site (Planning Ref. F13A/0248). The excavation that is the subject of this report is referred to as Phase 1B (Area 3). During the phase 1A archaeological investigations targeted testing was carried out on the phase 1B enclosure to confirm its existence and its nature and extent. The enclosure was slightly elliptical or sub‐circular in plan and measured a maximum external diameter of 77m east‐west x 70m north‐south (68m east‐west x 60m north‐south internal diameter), with an entrance to the east. Cereal drying (kilns) and metalworking activity were evident within the enclosure and a single adult male burial was also located within the interior. Further early medieval imported pottery (E ware) was recovered from other features within the enclosure. Area 3a lay within a southwest‐northeast pipeline trench / haul route from the phase 1A housing development to temporary attenuation pond no.1. Excavation of this area took place over three days from 18th‐20th May 2016 with three archaeologists. This trench, although it was not apparent at the time, cut through a ditched enclosure (SMR DU015‐014001-) and two features (C13 and C15) identified during monitoring of topsoil stripping were excavated and preserved by record. The features represent a cereal drying kiln and a linear feature of uncertain function, possibly serving as a windbreak to the kiln. At the time, it was thought that they were isolated features but subsequent targeted archaeological testing showed them to be internal features within a large ditched enclosure (DU015‐014001-). The pipeline was laid at a depth of approximately 5m. The exposed extent of the kiln measured 2.9m north‐south x 1.05m east‐west x 0.3m deep. The bowl was located at the northern end and the stoke hole to the south. The cut was clear and regular at the bowl end and had steep sides and a gently rounded base. Kiln C15 continued beyond the pipeline route to the south and was fully excavated during the phase 1B works (16E0613) and is further discussed in section 4.3.9 where it is referred to as C261. In the bowl, there were three fills (C20, C19 and C14). The basal fill in the bowl was a grey brown silty clay with moderate inclusions of animal bone, shell and charcoal (C20) and at the other end the basal fill was dark black‐grey silty clay 0.15m deep with abundant charcoal (C24). Overlying both C20 and C24 was a loose deposit of yellow‐grey gritty sandy silt with moderate charcoal and occasional bone (C19). The upper fill was dark brown‐black silty clay (C14) with frequent animal bone, occasional burnt bone, slag and seashell. This deposit was only present at the northern end of the kiln. Cut C15 equates to C261 from the phase 1B excavation and fills C19 and C24 equate to C291 and C292 respectively. Kiln C261 - C261 was a cereal drying kiln located in the southern area of the site and was aligned north‐south. The northern part of this feature was excavated during the Phase 1A works in May 2016, and the remainder was excavated during Phase 1B in April 2017. In total the kiln measured 3.8m long by 1m wide and 0.3m deep. The portion excavated during phase 1B was the southern end of the kiln and measured 1.1m north‐south by 1m east‐west and was 0.17m deep. The break of slope at the surface was sharp with steep almost vertical sides and a sharp break of slope to a flat, slightly concave base. Two fills were contained in the kiln and the lower fill C292 was a moderately compact layer of charcoal rich black silty clay with inclusions of cereal grain. This layer measured 1.1m by 1m and was 0.17m thick. Four fragments of dense slag (105g) (Rondelez, Appendix 5.7) and a sherd of unidentified early medieval imported pottery (16E0613:222) (Doyle, Appendix 5.1) were recovered from this layer. This black charcoal layer was partly sealed by C291, a thin band of moderately compact yellowgrey redeposited silty clay subsoil measuring 1m east‐west by 0.55m north‐south and 0.04m deep. This layer contained inclusions of small stones and occasional charcoal flecks. A sample of charred wheat (Hordeum sp., 0.1g) (Lyons, Appendix 5.9) from basal fill C292 returned a date range of 1107+/‐28 BP (UBA 36096), which was calibrated to AD 883‐1011 (2 sigma), indicating a date towards the end of the early medieval period for this phase of kilning activity (QUB, Appendix 5.14). A sample of fill C292 selected for environmental analysis contained both charred plant remains and charcoal. The charred plant remains were dominated by wheat, followed by barley with smaller quantities of oat and wild taxa and their presence indicates that the kiln was not cleaned out after it was last used and may have been abandoned after a fire. The composition of crops identified indicate a different harvesting phase or season from kiln C119 and this is supported by the dating evidence which places kiln C119 in the 5th/6th Century and kiln C261 in the 10th Century. Recent research has indicated that barley was more dominant in the earlier medieval period, pre c.700 and after this it declines on many sites and this is reflected in the plant species analysis and dating evidence for kilns C119 and C261. The wood species represented in the charcoal assemblage are very similar to those from kiln C119, being dominated by hazel, followed by pomaceous woods with smaller quantities of ash, willow and blackthorn (Lyons, Appendix 5.9). Of the recovered animal bone from the kiln, three bones were countable and none were burnt suggesting they were dumped in the kiln after it went out of use (Murray, Appendix 5.10). (McLoughlin 2019a 22-3; McLoughlin 2019b, 8-9; 37-8). See attached photographs and plan of site courtesy of and © Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. McLoughlin, G. 2019a Final Archaeological Excavation Report, Station Road, Portmarnock, 16E0101. Unpublished archaeological report submitted by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. to the National Monuments Service on behalf of Sherman Oaks Ltd. McLoughlin, G. 2019b Final Archaeological Excavation Report, Station Road, Portmarnock, 16E0613. Unpublished archaeological report submitted by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. to the National Monuments Service on behalf of Sherman Oaks Ltd. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Gill McLoughlin of Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd Date of upload: 21 June 2023

• DU015-014003 Burial
  Description

  A residential development has been completed where the monument stood. Nothing remains. Entirely removed by excavation under licence 16E0613 in advance of development. The results of this excavation were summarised by Gill McLoughlin as follows; 'The excavation comprised the remains of a large sub‐surface ditched enclosure (DU015‐014001-) adjacent to the upstanding Portmarnock mound (DU015‐014----), east of the railway line at Portmarnock and south of Station Road. The archaeological excavation took place over fourteen weeks from the 9th January 2017 with a team of ten archaeologists and six general operatives. Excavation at the site followed previous archaeological monitoring and excavation in relation to Phase 1A of a permitted development immediately to the west of the enclosure site (Planning Ref. F13A/0248). The excavation that is the subject of this report is referred to as Phase 1B (Area 3). During the phase 1A archaeological investigations targeted testing was carried out on the phase 1B enclosure to confirm its existence and its nature and extent. The enclosure was slightly elliptical or sub‐circular in plan and measured a maximum external diameter of 77m east‐west x 70m north‐south (68m east‐west x 60m north‐south internal diameter), with an entrance to the east. A single adult male burial was found within the interior of the ditched enclosure, in the southwest quadrant. The cut (C151) was elongated with rounded corners and measured 2m x 0.8m x 0.6m deep. It was oriented WNW‐ESE and had vertical sides and a flat base. The basal fill (C143) comprised a moderately compact mid‐brown silty clay with occasional charcoal, sea shell and an extended supine skeleton with head to the WNW. This grave cut was recut (C131), but the recut respected the outline of the original cut, indicating that it may have been still been visible at the time of the recut. The recut measured 1.7m x 0.5m x 0.4m deep and there was evidence of burning along the edge of this cut, in particular along the southwest side (C146) where the burning was vertical indicating that it was burnt in situ. The upper fill comprised a moderately compact dark grey/brown silty clay with frequent inclusions of bone, charcoal, seashell, occasional burnt bone and medium sized stones (C132). The inclusions of bone in the upper fill comprised animal bone only. A flint end‐of‐blade convex scraper (16E0613:160) and a cetacean caudal vertebra fragment (16E0613:134) were recovered from this deposit. The cetacean (whale/dolpin/porpoise) caudal fragment has been lightly modified for use as a suspension weight and comes from a small cetacean (Riddler and Trzaska‐Nartowski, Appendix 5.3). It could represent a votive deposit and it is possible that the recut of the grave was for the purpose of depositing this item. The skeletal remains comprised the remains of a male, c.40‐45 years at age of death, estimated to have measured 172.2cm+/‐4.32cm (or 5’9” +/‐ 1.7”) in height, which would have been taller than average for males in early medieval and medieval Ireland. This man suffered from severe degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and there were indications that the left upper limb was favoured over the right as a result. It was not possible to determine if this was caused by trauma or was due to old age however age at death would suggest the latter. The upper vertebral column was also affected by degenerative arthritis. This condition would have been painful, and probably inhibited this man’s ability to undertake daily activities (Tobin, Appendix 5.6). A sample of bone from the right femur was selected for radiocarbon dating, however the sample did not pass an initial nitrogen test and as such was not suitable for dating. A tooth (#17 in the dental arcade) was subsequently selected and returned a date range of 1545+/‐48 BP (UBA 35733), which was calibrated to AD 410‐607 (2 sigma), placing this individual in the late Iron Age/early medieval transition (QUB, Appendix 5.14). In an attempt to discover any additional information about the individual, such as if or when he may have moved to Portmarnock, three molars were selected for analysis of strontium isotope ratios and concentrations. The results suggest a marine‐based diet throughout the individual’s life, however it was not possible to assess mobility due to the signal being overshadowed by the input of marine resources. It is possible this individual moved but kept a marine‐based diet, but it is also possible that they stayed in the same location, close to the coast all their life (Snoeck, Appendix 5.15)' (McLoughlin 2019, 24-5). See attached photographs and plan of site courtesy of and © Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. McLoughlin, G. 2019 Final Archaeological Excavation Report, Station Road, Portmarnock, 16E0613. Unpublished archaeological report submitted by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. to the National Monuments Service on behalf of Sherman Oaks Ltd. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Gill McLoughlin of Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd Date of upload: 21 June 2023

• DU015-014004 Kiln - corn-drying
  Description

  A residential development has been completed where the monument stood. Nothing remains. Entirely removed by excavation under licence 16E0613 in advance of development. The results of this excavation were summarised by Gill McLoughlin as follows; 'The excavation comprised the remains of a large sub‐surface ditched enclosure (DU015‐014001-) adjacent to the upstanding Portmarnock mound (DU015‐014----), east of the railway line at Portmarnock and south of Station Road. The archaeological excavation took place over fourteen weeks from the 9th January 2017 with a team of ten archaeologists and six general operatives. Excavation at the site followed previous archaeological monitoring and excavation in relation to Phase 1A of a permitted development immediately to the west of the enclosure site (Planning Ref. F13A/0248). The excavation that is the subject of this report is referred to as Phase 1B (Area 3). During the phase 1A archaeological investigations targeted testing was carried out on the phase 1B enclosure to confirm its existence and its nature and extent. The enclosure was slightly elliptical or sub‐circular in plan and measured a maximum external diameter of 77m east‐west x 70m north‐south (68m east‐west x 60m north‐south internal diameter), with an entrance to the east. Kiln C214 - C214 was the cut of a figure‐of‐eight shaped kiln, also located in the south of the site, 2.5m southwest of kiln C261. This kiln was aligned south‐west to north‐east and measured 2.15m x 1.35m and was a maximum of 0.2m deep. The natural subsoil at the base of the kiln cut was burnt red and sealed by basal layer C213, which was a moderately compacted oxidised red clay with frequent burnt bone, shell, charcoal and small stone inclusions. This layer measured 1.8m x 0.5m and 0.1m deep. The northern side of fill C213 was overlain by a layer of redeposited natural subsoil (C239) measuring 1.5m x 0.5m and 0.1m deep. On the southern side C213 was sealed by C215, a layer of moderately compacted dark black brown soil with frequent burnt and unburnt animal bone and mottled with red burnt soil. This layer measured 0.9m x 0.5m and 0.1m deep. A setting of four stones (C226) divided the upper layers C239 and C215 which may represent distinct phases of use for this feature. Layers C213 and C239 may represent the primary use as a kiln while C226 and C215 may represent reuse of the feature as a hearth. A sample of fill C215 selected for environmental analysis contained a single charred pea and a small quantity of indeterminate cereal grains as well as hazel charcoal. The quantities of charred remains were small and indicate that, in contrast with the other two kilns, this kiln had been cleaned out after it was last used (Lyons, Appendix 5.9). This feature is most likely to belong to one of the early medieval phases of activity (Phases 5, 6, or 7)' (McLoughlin 2019, 42). See attached photographs and plan of site courtesy of and © Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. McLoughlin, G. 2019 Final Archaeological Excavation Report, Station Road, Portmarnock, 16E0613. Unpublished archaeological report submitted by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. to the National Monuments Service on behalf of Sherman Oaks Ltd. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Gill McLoughlin of Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd Date of upload: 21 June 2023

• DU015-014005 Metalworking site
  Description

  A residential development has been completed where the monument stood. Nothing remains. Entirely removed by excavation under licence 16E0613 in advance of development. The results of this excavation were summarised by Gill McLoughlin as follows; 'The excavation comprised the remains of a large sub‐surface ditched enclosure (DU015‐014001-) adjacent to the upstanding Portmarnock mound (DU015‐014----), east of the railway line at Portmarnock and south of Station Road. The archaeological excavation took place over fourteen weeks from the 9th January 2017 with a team of ten archaeologists and six general operatives. Excavation at the site followed previous archaeological monitoring and excavation in relation to Phase 1A of a permitted development immediately to the west of the enclosure site (Planning Ref. F13A/0248). The excavation that is the subject of this report is referred to as Phase 1B (Area 3). During the phase 1A archaeological investigations targeted testing was carried out on the phase 1B enclosure to confirm its existence and its nature and extent. The enclosure was slightly elliptical or sub‐circular in plan and measured a maximum external diameter of 77m east‐west x 70m north‐south (68m east‐west x 60m north‐south internal diameter), with an entrance to the east. Smithing heath C138 - C138 was a small pit located in the south of the enclosure, c.6m north‐east of burial C151 [DU015-014003-]. It was roughly circular in plan and measured 0.82m by 0.78 and was 0.38m deep. The pit contained two fills. The basal fill was a moderately compacted grey sandy clay 0.32m deep with occasional charcoal, sea shell and slag inclusions (C145). Above this was a layer of dark grey sandy clay 0.27m deep with inclusions of charcoal, burnt bone, burnt stone, seashell, slag, flint and medieval pottery (C139). The pottery recovered from C139 was two sherds of Dublin‐type ware (McCutcheon, Appendix 5.2) and it is likely to have found its way into the upper fill of this pit as a result of modern disturbance. The single piece of flint recovered from fill C139 was a burnt and shattered flint flake fragment (16E0613:219) (Weadick, Appendix 5.5). The slag retrieved from fill C145 comprised ten fragments of irregular dense slag, some with embedded flake hammerscale and charcoal (113g) and flake hammerscale was also present in a soil sample of this fill. The slag recovered from fill C139 comprised eight pieces of light to dense slag (76g), all irregular, except one which shows distinct flow structure. The presence of both slag and hammerscale in this pit indicates that the feature was used as a smithing hearth (Rondelez, Appendix 5.7). A sample from pit C138 was selected for environmental analysis, from the basal fill C145. Charred plant remains comprised a single barley and a single wheat grain which would have found their way into the fill from nearby kilning activities. The small quantity of charcoal retrieved was dominated by ash, followed by pomaceous woods (Lyons, Appendix 5.9).' (McLoughlin 2019, 24). See attached photographs and plan of site courtesy of and © Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. McLoughlin, G. 2019 Final Archaeological Excavation Report, Station Road, Portmarnock, 16E0613. Unpublished archaeological report submitted by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. to the National Monuments Service on behalf of Sherman Oaks Ltd. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Gill McLoughlin of Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd Date of upload: 21 June 2023

• DU015-014006 Kiln - corn-drying
  Description

  A residential development has been completed where the monument stood. Nothing remains. Entirely removed by excavation under licence 16E0613 in advance of development. The results of this excavation were summarised by Gill McLoughlin as follows; 'The excavation comprised the remains of a large sub‐surface ditched enclosure (DU015‐014001-) adjacent to the upstanding Portmarnock mound (DU015‐014----), east of the railway line at Portmarnock and south of Station Road. The archaeological excavation took place over fourteen weeks from the 9th January 2017 with a team of ten archaeologists and six general operatives. Excavation at the site followed previous archaeological monitoring and excavation in relation to Phase 1A of a permitted development immediately to the west of the enclosure site (Planning Ref. F13A/0248). The excavation that is the subject of this report is referred to as Phase 1B (Area 3). During the phase 1A archaeological investigations targeted testing was carried out on the phase 1B enclosure to confirm its existence and its nature and extent. The enclosure was slightly elliptical or sub‐circular in plan and measured a maximum external diameter of 77m east‐west x 70m north‐south (68m east‐west x 60m north‐south internal diameter), with an entrance to the east. Kiln C119 - C119 was the cut of a figure‐of‐eight shaped cereal drying kiln located in the eastern area of the site adjacent to pit/hearth C92. This kiln was aligned north‐south with a deep bowl at the north end and a shallower flue to the south (Figures 17 & 20, Plates 5‐6). The kiln cut measured 2.5m long and 1.65m wide and was 0.8m at maximum depth. The basal fill was a loose black charcoal rich sandy silt with frequent charred cereal grains and occasional stone inclusions (C125). This layer lined the base of the northern bowl of the kiln and extended partly into the flue. It measured 1.2m long by 1.65m wide and was 0.1m deep. A group of four baffle stones were located at the junction between the bowl and the flue. These stones (C144) were angular and flat and measured on average 0.2 by 0.15m. They comprised of three limestone pieces and one piece of sandstone, all of which showed evidence of exposure to heat. The baffle stones and basal charcoal layer were sealed by C123, a layer of loose grey clayey silt with frequent scorched stone inclusions. This layer also included frequent animal bones, some of which were burnt, occasional fragments of oyster shells and slag. The slag recovered from fill C123 is a dense, irregular smithing hearth cake with embedded charcoal fragments (168g) and a sample of the flotation residue from a sample of the fill contained flake hammerscale indicating that this feature was used for smithing work, perhaps after it had gone out of use as a kiln (Rondelez, Appendix 5.7). This layer filled the full length and width of the kiln and was 0.2m deep. The upper fill of the kiln was a loose, dark grey clayey sand (C120) with inclusions of frequent small stones, some of which were scorched, animal bone and a small light lump of slag with charcoal impressions (16g) (Rondelez, Appendix 5.7). This layer was 0.38m deep and filled the entire length and width of the kiln cut. Two samples from kiln C119 were selected for environmental analysis, from the basal fill C125 and the middle fill C123. The charred cereals from both fills were dominated by barley, followed by wheat with smaller quantities of oat and the fact that the charred grain was left in situ indicates that the kiln was not cleaned out and may have been abandoned after a fire. The charcoal from the kiln was dominated by hazel followed by pomaceous woods, blackthorn, ash and cherry‐type and represents fuel which is likely to have been gathered from whatever woods were locally available. The dominance of hazel could represent the wood used in the construction of the kiln (Lyons, Appendix 5.9). A sample of charred barley (Hordeum sp., 0.1g) (Lyons, Appendix 5.9) from C125 returned a date range of 1561+/‐41 BP (UBA 36089), which was calibrated to AD 408‐584 (2 sigma), indicating a date in the late Iron Age/early medieval transition for this kilning event (QUB, Appendix 5.14). On the eastern side of the kiln a small oval cut (C140) may have truncated the upper fill of the kiln however the exact relationship between the two features was not clear. The fill contained occasional animal bone and charcoal inclusions (C141) ' (McLoughlin 2019, 20-1). See attached photographs and plan of site courtesy of and © Gill McLoughlin of Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. McLoughlin, G. 2019 Final Archaeological Excavation Report, Station Road, Portmarnock, 16E0613. Unpublished archaeological report submitted by Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd. to the National Monuments Service on behalf of Sherman Oaks Ltd. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Gill McLoughlin of Deery Heritage Consultancy Ltd Date of upload: 21 June 2023

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

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Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.