# Phoenixtown, Co. Meath: townland, land parcels and planning

Townland in the civil parish of Martry, barony of Navan Lower, Co. Meath.

- Area (Tailte Éireann): 1,781,836 m² (178.18 ha, 440.3 acres)
- Land parcels (Tailte Éireann): 49 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in it, median 1,608 m²
- Zoning (national zoning, MyPlan): P5 RA - Rural Area, the zone with the most parcels
- Planning (National Planning Applications): 1 application since 2010
- Civil parish: Martry, https://everytownland.com/meath/parish/martry.md
- Barony: Navan Lower
- Electoral division: Martry, the unit of the census
- Census 2022 (Central Statistics Office): Martry electoral division: 792 people in 246 households; 92% of households own their home; 31% of homes were built since 2001; 5% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 1% were holiday homes.
- County: Co. Meath, https://everytownland.com/meath.md
- Placenames Database of Ireland: https://www.logainm.ie/en/38228
- Townland number at Tailte Éireann: 161297
- Centre: latitude 53.682237, longitude -6.799503 (WGS 84)

## Land parcels (registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann)

49 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Phoenixtown, from 3 m² to 372,717 m² (37.27 ha, 92.1 acres); 27 neighbouring parcels touch its boundary. Largest first:

- Parcel 210863: 372,717 m² (37.27 ha, 92.1 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/210863.md
- Parcel 143134: 324,617 m² (32.46 ha, 80.21 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/143134.md
- Parcel 4264441: 310,883 m² (31.09 ha, 76.82 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/4264441.md
- Parcel 210851: 217,912 m² (21.79 ha, 53.85 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/210851.md
- Parcel 185767: 148,473 m² (14.85 ha, 36.69 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/185767.md
- Parcel 3047139: 145,765 m² (14.58 ha, 36.02 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/3047139.md
- Parcel 4264481: 46,592 m² (4.66 ha, 11.51 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/4264481.md
- Parcel 3047315: 44,806 m² (4.48 ha, 11.07 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/3047315.md
- Parcel 2517554: 32,345 m² (3.23 ha, 7.99 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/2517554.md
- Parcel 210858: 21,376 m² (2.14 ha, 5.28 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/210858.md
- Parcel 3337558: 21,319 m² (2.13 ha, 5.27 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/3337558.md
- Parcel 211486: 18,047 m² (1.8 ha, 4.46 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/211486.md
- Parcel 3337718: 11,296 m² (1.13 ha, 2.79 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/3337718.md
- Parcel 183190: 11,295 m² (1.13 ha, 2.79 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/183190.md
- Parcel 2741606: 6,905 m² (0.69 ha, 1.71 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/2741606.md
- Parcel 193729: 4,544 m² (0.45 ha, 1.12 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/193729.md
- Parcel 189403: 4,466 m² (0.45 ha, 1.1 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/189403.md
- Parcel 153897: 3,565 m² (0.36 ha, 0.88 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/153897.md
- Parcel 187664: 3,399 m² (0.34 ha, 0.84 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/187664.md
- Parcel 3337218: 2,963 m² (0.3 ha, 0.73 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/3337218.md
- Parcel 3009921: 2,707 m² (0.27 ha, 0.67 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/3009921.md
- Parcel 151874: 2,132 m² (0.21 ha, 0.53 acres), https://everytownland.com/parcel/151874.md
- Parcel 171935: 1,863 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/171935.md
- Parcel 203221: 1,618 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/203221.md
- Parcel 3337858: 1,608 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/3337858.md
- Parcel 3455366: 1,353 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/3455366.md
- Parcel 161069: 1,285 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/161069.md
- Parcel 135774: 1,278 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/135774.md
- Parcel 206346: 1,148 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/206346.md
- Parcel 201370: 1,103 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/201370.md
- Parcel 4923260: 431 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/4923260.md
- Parcel 3340625: 424 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/3340625.md
- Parcel 2741494: 239 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/2741494.md
- Parcel 5692234: 219 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5692234.md
- Parcel 2917263: 186 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/2917263.md
- Parcel 2741527: 140 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/2741527.md
- Parcel 5697456: 140 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5697456.md
- Parcel 5692241: 95 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5692241.md
- Parcel 5692216: 69 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5692216.md
- Parcel 5692218: 53 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5692218.md
- Parcel 5692244: 37 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5692244.md
- Parcel 5692232: 30 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5692232.md
- Parcel 5692206: 25 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5692206.md
- Parcel 5692213: 22 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/5692213.md
- Parcel 2741541: 21 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/2741541.md
- Parcel 2741569: 18 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/2741569.md
- Parcel 2741574: 16 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/2741574.md
- Parcel 2917255: 13 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/2917255.md
- Parcel 2741577: 3 m², https://everytownland.com/parcel/2741577.md

## Zoning (national zoning of development plans, MyPlan)

- P5 RA - Rural Area (Mixed/general primary sector uses, including 'rural'): Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027, Meath; 76 parcels. The zoning objective in the plan: https://consult.meath.ie/en/consultation/meath-adopted-county-development-plan

## Planning applications whose site touches the townland (National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

1 application, newest first.

- 23 Dec 2020, Meath County Council KA202098: Conditional. Permission, 1 home. a single storey style dwelling and detached domestic garge, upgrade existing entrance from public road, install wastewater treatment system and percolation area together with all associated site works. Significant further information/revised plans submitted on this application. File: https://www.eplanning.ie/MeathCC/AppFileRefDetails/KA202098/0

Applicants are not shown.

## Designated sites (National Parks and Wildlife Service)

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Phoenixtown.

## Recorded monuments (Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service)

- ME024-026: Ritual site - holy well, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-026----. The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.
- ME024-027001: Road - road/trackway, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027001-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). The road consists of an E-W metalled surface (Wth up to 4.5m) which is in good condition with wheel-ruts and hollow tracks from draught animals (L 55m plus), and it extends outside the way-leave on both sides (Lyne 2010, 6-10. It is accompanied by drainage ditches on the S (L 53m; Wth of top 2.4m; D 0.53m) and N (L 48m; Wth of top 2.3m; D 0.52m), which are connected by gullies in two places. The ditches were filled and the road sealed by a sandy clay which produced largely local wares of the twelfth to fourteenth centuries (Lyne 2008, 2010, 6-9). Gosling postulates (2016, 76) that this section of road could have been part of the road between the medieval towns of Athboy and Ardee that can be identified in Teltown and Orristown (ME017-062----) further N. See the attached plan from Lyne (2010, Fig. 9) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 July, 2019
- ME024-027002: Kiln - corn-drying, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027002-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). This kiln (A) is c. 30m N of the road and c. 10m NE of the threshing floor. It is L-shaped consisting of a N-S channel (dims 2.65m x 1.53m; D 0.3m) with a W spur (L 1.53m; Wth 0.98m; D 0.33m) at its S end. The sides are lined with stones but not the base and it is slightly truncated at N by the ditch associated with the road. The floor was scorched yellow clay and it was filled with a charcoal-rich silt and some burnt bone. A sample of hazel produced a calibrated C14 date of 1220-1281 cal. AD. Barley, wheat and some rye were identified amongst the plant remains. (Lyne 2010, 10-11) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 July, 2019
- ME024-027003: Kiln - corn-drying, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027003-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). This kiln (B) is just S of the road. It is keyhole-shaped (dims 2.25m NW-SE; 1.7m NE-SW; D 0.33m) and stone-lined with a stone base to the channel, and it was filled with charcoal-rich layers. The opening to the kiln was a shallow curving channel (L 0.95m) to the SE and there are two air-intake vents. Two nearby hearths could also be associated with it, and gorse was the fuel used in the kiln. Only small quantities of grain including wheat, barley and oats were recovered. Pottery associations, including a sherd of Redcliffe ware suggest a twelfth to thirteenth century date, but a calibrated C14 date of AD 1440-1618 was returned from a sample of hazel charcoal. (Lyne 2010, 12-13) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 July 2019
- ME024-027004: Kiln - corn-drying, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027004-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). This possible kiln (C) is only c. 2m S of the S ditch associated with the road and c. 3m NW of the well. It is an oval, partly stone-lined N-S channel (L 1.84m x 0.88m; D 0.4m), with a stone base. Two sherds of local Meath pottery dating from the twelfth to thirteenth centuries were in the fill consisting of sandy silts and clays with some charcoal, amongst which was gorse and small quantities of grain but the quantities were too small for a regular kiln, and it may have been a stone-lined pit. (Lyne 2010, 14-15) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 July, 2019
- ME024-027005: Kiln - corn-drying, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027005-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). This kiln (D) is just 5m SW of the threshing floor and c. 15m NW of the nearest point of the W end of the road. It is an oval cut (dims 1.67m x 1.34m; D 0.15m) with a stone base beneath and the base of a rudimentary flue (L 5m; Wth 1m; D 0.1m) extending N. The chamber was filled with a burning layer and a charcoal deposit. It is just the base of a kiln, but charcoal analysis identified oak and buckthorn which were probably used as the fuel. Wheat, oats and barley as well as peas were also represented. A sample of buckthorn returned a calibrated C14 date of AD 1526-1793, which makes it possibly the latest kiln in the complex. (Lyne 2010, 15-16) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 July 2019
- ME024-027006: Kiln - corn-drying, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027006-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). This kiln (E) is c. 6m N of the threshing floor and is an oval channel (dims 2.66m x 1m; D 0.2m) aligned NE-SW cut through burnt clay and was filled with two layers of sandy silt, the upper enriched with charcoal. It is only the base of a kiln but oats, wheat and barley as well as peas were identified. (Lyne 2010, 16) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 July 2019
- ME024-027007: Mill - threshing, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027007-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). The centre of the traction mill (ext. diam. 12m) is c. 23m NE of the N edge of the road at the nearest point and it is surrounded by corn-drying kilns. At its centre is a circular area (diam. 3m) which would have held the lower millstone while the upper stone, sitting over a pintle fixed to the lower, would have been turned by a horizontal beam connected to wheel, which in turn was drawn by a mule or ox walking around in a circle (ext. diam. c. 11-12m). Outside the site of the lower stone was a ridge of redeposited soil (Wth 1.3m; H 0.18m) that was protected by the lever but the walkway developed into a distinct trench (Wth 2.9m; D 0.4m) filled with mixed clays that have spreads of stones added in places to provide traction for the draught animal. A channel (Wth 0.7m; D 0.22m) on the inner edge of this was for the wheel attached to the boom lever. There were two redeposited layers at the centre with some prehistoric lithics but a grain sample from here produced a calibrated C14 date of AD 1279-1392, while a wheat grain from the wheel-rut has a calibrated C14 date of AD 1445-1615. See the attached plan from Lyne (2010, Fig. 8) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 July 2019
- ME024-027008: Well, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027008-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). The well is c. 8m S of the roadway and is a funnel (diam. of top 2.9m; D 1.64m) that morphs into a shaft and naturally fills with water once excavated. The fills of the well from the bottom were silt, large stones, a silty clay with animal bones that were mostly cattle teeth and skull fragments. Above this was a sandy clay from which 14 sherds of Meath pottery were recovered, and a wheat grain from it produced a calibrated C14 date of AD 1251-1287. Above this was a sandy clay from which a plough pebble was recovered. Wheat, hulled barley, oats and peas were identified. A drainage ditch led off to the E and N into the S ditch of the road, and produced 15 sherds of largely Meath pottery. Some stones at the W end of this drain and the stones from within the well may have provided a wall around it or steps into it. (Lyne 2010, 18-21)
- ME024-027009: Pit, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027009-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). About 11m SE of the well and c. 20m S of the roadway a number of large intercutting pits filled with variations of silty sand created a large open cistern or water-hole (dims 7.4m NE-SW; 3.1m NW-SE; max. D 2m at NE) with a fairly gentle slope down into it from the SW. The ceramics recovered are local and dated to the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, but a sample of ash charcoal from one of the cuts produced a calibrated C14 date of AD 1446-1617. (Lyne 2010, 21-3) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 July, 2019
- ME024-027010: Structure, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027010-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). Just S of the well and NW of the water-hole a N-S trench (L c. 7m; Wth 1.1m; D 0.37m) has a spur (L 4.2m) to the W at the S end. It is interpreted as a possible foundation trench of the only building in the complex. A fragment of a roofing slate supports this view, and while Meath pottery indicates a high medieval date a clay-pipe stem points to the seventeenth century at the earliest, if it is not intrusive which it probably is. A number of small pits (dims c. 1m x c. 1.2m; D 0.2m; to dims 2.1-2.9m; D 0.3m) c. 10m to the W that contained a large amount of animal bone and pottery, often burnt, could be associated settlement debris. (Lyne 2010, 23-26) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 July 2019
- ME024-027011: Field system, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-027011-. Situated on a slight E-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. An area of intense agricultural processing was first identified in 2004 in centre-line testing (04E0923) on the M3 motorway, and set aside for resolution as Phoenixtown 2 (Keith 2007). A geophysical survey (02R058) highlighted the complexity of the material (Bartlett 2002), and subsequently a large area (dims c. 100m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW) within the way-leave was excavated (E003129) in 2006 and 2007 (Lyne 2010, 2010a). The principal feature revealed was an E-W roadway, together with five corn-drying kilns, a threshing floor, a well and water-hole, and the corner of a house in the immediate vicinity of the road. On ceramic evidence all the features date from the late twelfth to the fourteenth century, but the area was cut by numerous large pits (diam. c. 2-3m; D 0.3-0.9m to dims c. 6-9m x c. 2-3m; D 1m) and many smaller ones which contained a mix of largely local medieval wares, dating generally to the same period. There was very little intrusive material, although prehistoric lithics do occur (ibid. 27-34, 39-48). There were also numerous furrows, generally aligned N-S or E-W that cut through most other features over the area and represent the last activity on the site (ibid. 48-55) but the ceramics recovered date generally to the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The earliest features are some disjointed sections of field boundaries with associated plough furrows (ibid. 5). (Lyne 2008) The name Phoenixtown is derived from the Irish Baile na bhfionnóg – town of the (grey?) crow - which was anglicised as Finnogestown (Murphy 2010, ccxii). The barony of Lower Navan was granted by Hugh de Lacy to Jocelin de Angulo at the start of the Anglo-Norman settlement of Meath in 1172, but there is no record of the initial sub-infeudation. In 1318 the manor of Martry, which was probably as large as the medieval parish, had reverted to the King because its holder, Walter de Say, was guilty of a felony, probably committed during the Bruce campaign (1314-18). Martry was granted to Hugh de Turpelton, but in 1324 possession had passed to Miles de Verdon. An inquisition into the value of Marty at this time mentions Fenokston for the first time, and amongst the free tenants David Beg, Adam Beg, and Richard Lewati hold a carucate of land (c. 300 acres) at Fenokston, and these families were probably the owners of the agricultural enterprise in the excavated area. The ownership of the manor of Martry is uncertain for the rest of the century but by 1415 it had passed to the Darcy family. However, the Beg name recurs in documents through the fourteenth century (ibid. ccix). There are a number of field ditches in the area N of the road which run generally E-W and N-S, although not necessarily connecting with each other. The ditches (Wth 1.3m; D 0.3 to Wth 2.9m; D 2m) form rectangular plots (dims c. 5-20m N-S; 50m plus E-W) and seem to avoid damaging the kilns and the threshing floor. Two parallel ditches placed 5m apart and c. 30m N of the roadway and parallel with it could have been intended as a roadway but the plan was abandoned before it acquired a metalled surface and the metalled road was built instead. (Lyne 2010, 34-39) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 11 July 2019
- ME024-029001: Hut site, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-029001-. Situated in a gently undulating landscape. Archaeological testing (04E0926) by S. Keith (2005) at Testing Area 3 of Contract 4 of the M3 motorway identified archaeological material (excavations.ie 2004:1311) that was excavated (E003130) by E. Lyne (2010) as Phoenixtown 3 from November 2006 to March 2007 (excavations.ie 2007:1369). Two areas were opened, amounting to 5500 square metres in total. In Area B a large hut-site was uncovered. It is evidenced by a circle (diam. c. 10m) of 13 postholes spaced c. 1.5-2m apart and with an entrance porch (L 4m; Wth 2.5-3m) of four postholes, a stakehole and two pits (dims 1.02m x 0.55m; D 0.3m: dims 0.81m 0.46m; D 0.34m) that may have held posts at SE. The larger pit contained nine sherds of Middle Bronze Age domestic ware, and a sample of ash charcoal from the smaller returned a C14 date of 1503-1415 cal. BC (UBA 11112). The circle is composed of ten main posts and three lighter, probably interpolated, posts. Samples of ash and alder charcoal from two postholes returned dates of 1494-1392 cal. BC (UBA 11111) and 1436-1316 cal. BC (UBA 11113) respectively. Outside the circle of posts were arcs of drip-gullies or pits SE-S (Wth 0.56m; D 0.18m) and NE-ESE. The NE feature (Wth 0.6m; D 0.46m) had stones at the bottom and it had been re-cut (D 0.22m). Hazelnut shell charcoal from the bottom fill yielded a radiocarbon determination of 1435-1303 cal. BC (UBA 11114). Outside the circle of posts at NW were two postholes that were cut by a pit (dims 1.3m x 0.6m; D 0.18m). A large heart-shaped pit (dims 2.4m x 1.63m; D 0.2m), from which a small mortar or lamp was recovered, was in the inner part of the porch. On the inner side of this pit was a dense group of 40 stakeholes which, together with a small pit (dims 0.43m x 0.34m; D 0.04m), could have blocked access to the interior. The only other internal feature was a pit (dims 1.26m; x 0.6m; D 0.2m) inside the arc of posts at NE. Outside the porch, about 10m distant, was a linear trench (L 14.4m; Wth 2m; D 0.6m) filled with five layers of grey and yellow silty sands over two primary layers of grey sandy clay and black silty sand. It is interpreted as a refuse pit, although all of the almost 250 sherds of Middle Bronze Age domestic ware from the pit came from its top layer. This large pit cut a circular pit (diam. 1.22-1.25m; D 0.14m) and was cut by a rectangular pit (dims 2.1m x 1.4m; D 0.2m), but only the last produced almost 300 sherds of domestic ware. The pottery from these pits derived from at least seven vessels, and connections can be established with contexts in the hut-site. Four stakeholes, three postholes and a small pit around or on top of the large refuse pit may have had a role in relation to it. A sample of alder charcoal from the bottom of the large pit yielded a C14 date of 1607-1451 cal. BC (UBA 12941), while a sample of hazel charcoal from the top layer provided a date of 1515-1428 cal. BC (UBA 12111). The hut-site and all its appurtenances can be ascribed to the Middle Bronze Age through both the pottery and radiocarbon dating, and five pits (dims 0.54m x 0.46m; D 0.14m to 2.45m x 1.2m; D 0.12m) together with some postholes and stakeholes that cannot be directly related to the hut-site through stratigraphy probably belong in this milieu also, as a few flints and some appropriate sherds of pottery have been recovered from some of the pits. (Lyne 2010, 17-28) See the attached plan from Lyne (2010, fig. 8) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 23 March 2022
- ME024-029002: Pit, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-029002-. Situated in a gently undulating landscape. Archaeological testing (04E0926) by S. Keith (2005) at Testing Area 3 of Contract 4 of the M3 motorway identified archaeological material (excavations.ie 2004:1311) that was excavated (E003130) by E. Lyne (2010) as Phoenixtown 3 from November 2006 to March 2007 (excavations.ie 2007:1369). Two areas were opened, amounting to 5500 square metres in total. In Area A two small pits (diam. 0.36-0.38m; D 0.06m: diam. 0.45-0.47m; D 0.08m), 1.5m apart, produced 13 sherds from a vase food vessel, but there is no mention of bone. A sample of hazelnut shell from the smaller pit provided the C14 date of 1745-1628 cal. BC (UBA 1110), placing it in the Middle Bronze Age. A single posthole c. 12m to the NW is thought to be related. (Lyne 2010, 5-7) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 23 March 2022
- ME024-029003: Excavation - miscellaneous, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-029003-. Situated in a gently undulating landscape. Archaeological testing (04E0926) by S. Keith (2005) at Testing Area 3 of Contract 4 of the M3 motorway identified archaeological material (excavations.ie 2004:1311) that was excavated (E003130) by E. Lyne (2010) as Phoenixtown 3 from November 2006 to March 2007 (excavations.ie 2007:1369). Two areas were opened, amounting to 5500 square metres in total. A WNW-ESE medieval ditch (L 28m; Wth 1.36m; D 0.28m) crossed Area A and terminated in an oval pit (dims 4m x 2.3m; D 0.23m) at E that had evidence of in situ burning. The drain had a single fill of brown silty clay that produced a sherd of a local medieval fine ware dating from the 13th to 14 centuries, as well as a nail and a piece of flint, although it may have been re-cut at its E end. This drain cut a slighter ENE-WSW one (Wth 0.48m; D 0.18m). There were six pits (dims 0.6m x 0.96m; D 0.16m to 1.8m x 1.4m; D0.17m), including a hearth (dims 0.8m x 0.55m; D 0.07m) cut into the fill of the large ditch that produced no material but which clearly post-date it. One large pit (diam. 3.3m; D 0.7m) that cut the medieval ditch had two levels of in situ burning, each with several discrete lenses of ash and charcoal. Carbonised cereal grains are associated with these, but a sample from the base returned a C14 date of 1665-1952 cal. AD, indicating recent use. An iron wedge was in the final fill of this feature. There were 15 postholes and three stakeholes in the excavated area but no pattern was discernible. There were also about 20 small pits including one hearth that could not be stratigraphically related to other features but which are probably medieval or post medieval in date. This includes a cluster of pits at the S extent of the excavated area which might be related to the medieval corn-drying kilns of Phoenixtown 2 that are just to the SE. (Lyne 2010, 7-16) See the attached plan from Lyne (2010, fig. 7) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 23 March 2022
- ME024-030001: Pit, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-030001-. Situated in a gently undulating landscape. Archaeological testing (04E0926) by S. Keith (2005) at Testing Area 3 of Contract 4 of the M3 motorway identified a burnt mound (excavations.ie 2004:1311) that was fully excavated (E003128) by E. Lyne (2010) as Phoenixtown 1 in August-September 2006 (excavations.ie 2007:1261). An area of 4500 square metres was opened revealing the burnt mound as well as this isolated concentration of four pits and an outlying pit that produced sherds of Neolithic pottery. A shallow pit (dims 2.2mx 0.95m; D 0.09m) yielded seven sherds of Early Neolithic pottery and c. 4m to the E two pits (dims 0.74m x 0.46m; D 0.16m: dims 0.55m x 0.45m; D 0.13m) provided six sherds and 11 sherds respectively. About 2.5m S of these two sherds were retrieved from a shallow oval pit (dims 0.76m c 0.4m; D 0.1m). The largest pit (dims 2.67m x 1.87m; D 0.44m) was c. 33m to the SE and had an uneven base but its layers of brown clay over orange/brown clayey sand produced 26 sherds of Neolithic pottery from two vessels. Just N of this pit was a group of six postholes and a stakehole in a rough NW-SE line (L c. 8m). (Lyne 2010, 5-6) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 23 March 2022
- ME024-030002: Fulacht fia, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-030002-. Situated in a gently undulating landscape. Archaeological testing (04E0926) by S. Keith (2005) at Testing Area 3 of Contract 4 of the M3 motorway identified a burnt mound (excavations.ie 2004:1311) that was excavated (E003128) by E. Lyne (2010) as Phoenixtown 1 in August-September 2006 (excavations.ie 2007:1261). An area of 4500 square metres was opened revealing an isolated group of pits with Neolithic pottery and the burnt mound with associated features. The mound (max. dims 19.75m WNW-ESE; 9.25m; T 0.3m) consisted of a black silty clay with stones. Charcoal from it was vitrified, indicating that it had burnt at a very high temperature. A circular trough (diam. 1.48-1.54m; D 0.55m) with a fill of black sandy silt that had stone inclusions was just N of the mound. A subrectangular trough (dims 2.44m x 1.31m; D 0.1m) was beneath the SW edge of the mound and had stakeholes in the three surviving corners. Five postholes, perhaps forming a circular structure (dims 2.25m N-S; 2m E-W), were sealed by the mound. A sample of hazel charcoal from one of the postholes returned a C14 date of 1408-1269 cal. BC (UBA 11102). There were eleven pits (dims 0.8m x 0.6m; D 0.13m to dims 2.9m x 1.87m; D 0.42m) beneath the mound, and the largest at the S edge of the mound had a gully (L 1.1m) extending SW from it that connected with another smaller pit and may have been used to collect water. A sample of alder charcoal from a pit at the E edge of the mound yielded a C14 date of 2559-2300 cal. BC (UBA 11103). Eleven pits and some stakeholes were not sealed by the mound but the pits were of similar dimensions to those beneath it and were filled for the most part with material from the mound. A sample of ash charcoal from a pit NW of the mound provided a C14 date of 2457-2205 cal. BC (UBA 11104). The stakeholes formed a rough E-W line (L c. 3m) and may have sheltered a four-post structure that was just to its SW. A post-medieval drain (Wth 3m; D 0.15m), or perhaps a path, skirts the S edge of the mound. (Lyne 2010, 5-14) See the attached plan from Lyne (2010, fig. 5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 23 March 2022
- ME024-031: Fulacht fia, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-031----. Situated in a gently undulating landscape. Archaeological testing (04E0926) by S. Keith (2005) at Testing Area 3 of Contract 4 of the M3 motorway identified a burnt mound (excavations.ie 2004:1311) that was partially excavated (E003127) by E. Lyne (2010) as Phoenixtown 6 in August 2006 (excavations.ie 2007:1372). An area of 800 square metres was opened revealing the burnt mound at the SW edge of the road-take. The mound (dims 11m plus N-S; 8m plus E-W; T 0.1m) had a circular trough (diam. 1.85-2.1m; D 0.7m) with a flat base at its W edge. Attached to this at N was a triangular pit (dims 3.4m x 3.2m; max. D 0.3m) that was truncated at N but had an apex at the lip of the trough and was probably a drainage channel. About 2m to the NW a rectangular trough (dims 1.98m NW-SE; 0.51m NE-SW; D 0.39m) was cut by a post-medieval ditch at N and remains largely unexcavated in the baulk at SW. All these features were filled with broken and burnt stone. Samples of ash charcoal provided C14 dates of 1742-1617 cal. BC (UBA 11106) from the circular trough and 2119-1895 cal. BC (UBA 11108) from the rectangular trough, placing the monument in the Early Bronze Age. Outside the extent of the burnt mound a barbed and tanged arrowhead was found in a thin deposit, and a possible hearth (dims 0.95m x 0.8m; D 0.17m) filled with a light brown/grey silty clay yielded a C14 date of 3770-3654 cal. BC (UBA 11107) from a hazelnut shell, placing that feature in the Early Neolithic. (Lyne 2010, 5-7) See the attached plan from Lyne (2010, fig. 5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 23 March 2022
- ME024-032: Excavation - miscellaneous, https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CME024-032----. Situated on a slight SE-facing slope in a gently undulating landscape. Archaeological testing (04E0926) by S. Keith (2005) at Testing Area 3 of Contract 4 of the M3 motorway identified archaeological material (excavations.ie 2004:1311) that was excavated (E003126) by T. Coughlin (2010) as Phoenixtown 5 in late January 2007 (excavations.ie 2007:1371). Two areas were opened, amounting to 1653 square metres. In Area A a cluster of postholes and pits (dims 0.42m x 0.24m; D 0.13m to diam. 1m; D 0.19m) is optimistically interpreted as a possible square structure (dims c. 4.5m NE-SW; c. 3.5m NW-SE) but only one posthole marks the S angle while pits and deposits outline the remainder. Five sherds of Grooved ware were recovered from the postholes and 26 sherds of Grooved ware and finished flint objects including three thumbnail scrapers and two cutting tools were recovered from these features. A fragment of hazel charcoal from one of the postholes yielded a C14 date of 2867-2579 cal. BC (UBA 12108), while dates of 2831-2487 cal. BC (UBA 11105) and 2866-2580 cal. BC (UBA 12109) were returned from samples of hazel charcoal that derived from two of the pits. Two other pits (dims 1m x 0.98m; D 0.14m: diam. 0.39-0.44m; D 0.08m) within 8m of the cluster produced only single flakes of flint. A NW-SE field drain cuts through the cluster of pits. About 180m to the WSW in Area B there were three truncated pits, including a rectangular one (dims 1.4m x 0.8m; D 0.129m) that was filled with broken and burnt stone but produced little material. (Coughlan 2010, 5-9) See the attached plan from Coughlan (2010, fig. 5) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 24 March 2022

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).

## Architectural heritage (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage)

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Phoenixtown.

## Ground and risks (Radon Risk Map of Ireland, EPA; Landslide Susceptibility Classification and LiDAR, Geological Survey Ireland)

- Radon: About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home: https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/radon/radon-testing/#d.en.82887
- Landslides: Susceptibility low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.
- Terrain model: no LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Phoenixtown.
- Flooding: the flood maps of the Office of Public Works, https://www.floodinfo.ie/map/floodmaps/, linked only: their licence does not allow re-use.

LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

## Downloads

- DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, for a drawing program: https://everytownland.com/meath/phoenixtown.dxf
- GeoJSON, in WGS 84, for a map: https://everytownland.com/meath/phoenixtown.geojson
- KML, for Google Earth: https://everytownland.com/meath/phoenixtown.kml

## Homes sold (Residential Property Price Register)

No address of the register names Phoenixtown with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Meath: https://everytownland.com/meath.md

## Neighbouring townlands (National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann)

- Allenstown Demesne: https://everytownland.com/meath/allenstown-demesne.md
- Ballybeg: https://everytownland.com/meath/ballybeg.md
- Castlemartin: https://everytownland.com/meath/castlemartin.md
- Faughanhill: https://everytownland.com/meath/faughanhill.md
- Grange: https://everytownland.com/meath/grange-160813.md
- Martry: https://everytownland.com/meath/martry.md
- Oldtown: https://everytownland.com/meath/oldtown-161259.md

A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.

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Everytownland reads the registered freehold land and the statutory boundaries of Tailte Éireann, the national zoning, planning file and heritage records of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Residential Property Price Register. 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; this site names no owner. A price is the price recorded for a past sale, not a valuation.

Sources: Cadastral Parcels Freehold, Townlands, Civil Parishes, Baronies, Electoral Divisions and Buildings, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0; national zoning of development plans (GZT, MyPlan) and National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0, applicants not shown; designated sites, National Parks and Wildlife Service, CC BY 4.0; Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service, CC BY 4.0; National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, CC BY 4.0; Residential Property Price Register, Property Services Regulatory Authority, re-used with the source acknowledged.

- Page: https://everytownland.com/meath/phoenixtown
- In JSON: https://everytownland.com/api/townland/meath/phoenixtown