Ballustree

Area

14,527 m² (1.45 ha, 3.59 acres)

Buildings

No building touches it.

Zoning

The zoning service did not answer.

Townland

Ballustree

Planning applications on this parcel

• 4 Feb 2020Grant permission

  To apply for the construction of 4. no single storey boiler houses, 1

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F20A/0047

• 30 Oct 2018Grant permission

  Permission for works to an existing above ground natural gas installat

  Permission · Fingal County Council, F18A/0611

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 12 recorded monuments.

• DU008-006001 Promontory fort - coastal
  Description

  The neck of the headland c. 46 acres is defended by a straight series of earthworks (L. 350m) except where they curve inwards near the S cliff. The elevated, relatively flat promontory at Drumanagh is delimited on its landward (western) side by three closely-spaced earthen banks, each fronted by a ditch, with traces of a fourth, counterscarp, bank beyond the outer ditch. The inner bank is the best preserved rampart (Wth 30m; H 2m) The remaining banks have been greatly denuded (Wth 17m; H 0.5m). Fosses are silted up. (Wth 4-6m, D 0.1m). A small stream emanates from a pond outside the ramparts to flow along the inner ditch and over the cliff edge at the south-west corner of the promontory. A number of gaps occur along the length of the ramparts, one or more of which may represent an original entrance. There is a Martello tower (DU008-006003-) at the eastern end of the promontory, which was built c. 1804. The original approach to the tower survives as a sunken trackway extending from the south-east corner of the fort. A system of 18th/19th century relict field boundaries defined by low earthen banks and ditches, extend across the northern and southern sides of the promontory. The LIARI project has examined the available LiDar data in conjunction with previous geophysical survey, carried out on behalf of the NMI, and undertaken geophysical survey (Cahill-Wilson et al 2014). Within the promontory a D-shaped enclosure and several structures suggestive of buildings and/or small enclosures, the presence of burnt material and pits (Dowling 2014, 13). The results reflect ploughing on the fort in the 1970s that revealed hut sites suggesting extensive settlement. Gallo-Roman pottery, second century AD Roman coins, Romano-British fibulae (brooches), copper ingots and an iron horsebit have been found at the site. The most significant feature identified by geophysical survey was located south-west external to the ramparts. It is a large, roughly oval enclosure (c. 42m E-W x 30m N-S). Two well defined breaks, each measuring c. 5m in width, occur on the north-east and south-east sides of the enclosure and may reflect original entrances (Dowling 2014, 16). Ploughing took place external to the outer rampart in the summer of 2014 impinging on the counterscarp fourth bank in the northern half of the site and the newly discovered oval enclosure. Digging Drumanagh, https://www.fingal.ie/digging-drumanagh, a Fingal County Council community-based research project has undertaken three seasons of excavation at the site. The focus of the Season I excavation in 2018 was the Martello road in the vicinity of the early 19th century Martello tower (DU008-006003-), towards the eastern limit of the headland. Two trenches were excavated and showed that the building of the Martello road disturbed Iron Age deposits. A number of fragments of human bone were also recovered including the cranial fragment of a female aged between 18 and 45 years at the time of death, which was dated to BC 170 – cal. AD 52. A long bone identified as an adult femur was recovered from the area south of the Martello road which returned a date of cal. BC 49 – cal. AD 118 indicating at least two burials in this area. There were also extensive remains associated with the occupants of the Martello Tower (Baker 2018). The 2019 Season II excavation took place at the other end of the Martello Road, near to the ramparts. Here a prehistoric structure was identified by the post and stakeholes left behind when the wood rotted. Nearby was a structure associated with a weaving comb along with numerous bone points, possible bone tools and a bone needle indicating processing and/or craftworking and textile production was being carried out here. The presence of almost 80 sherds Dressel 20 pottery from the Roman province of Baetica in Southern Spain and other Romano-British material confirms there was significant contact between Drumanagh and the Roman world in the 1st-3rd centuries AD (Baker 2019) The focus of the 2022 Season III excavation was to determine if a lane or roadway identified on aerial photographs and geophysical survey was of ancient or more modern origin. The lane left little evidence indicating it was of modern date. Instead the collapsed wall of a structure was identified. A deposit rich with animal bone was excavated from within the structure. Sherds of at least four different types of pottery from the Roman world were recovered as were fragments of glass vessels and a number of glass beads (Baker 2022). To see a 3D model of the fort visit; https://skfb.ly/oEQ7n This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 13/1977). See attached photograph of bank of fort (DU008-006001-_02) from the Patrick Healy Collection, © South Dublin County Council - https://hdl.handle.net/10599/3225 Baker, C. 2018 Digging Drumanagh Season I, Preliminary Report (Licence C786/E4805). https://www.fingal.ie/digging-drumanagh Baker, C. 2019 Digging Drumanagh Season II, Preliminary Report (Licence C786/E4805). https://www.fingal.ie/digging-drumanagh Baker, C. 2022 Digging Drumanagh Season III, Preliminary Report (Licence C786/E4805). https://www.fingal.ie/digging-drumanagh Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated and revised by: Christine Baker Date of revised upload: 6 March 2023

• DU008-006002 Well
  Description

  This is a natural spring which lies within the defences of the promontory fort at Drumanagh. Marked on the 1837 OS map its site is completely overgrown. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 07 December 2014 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 13/1977).

• DU008-006003 Martello tower
  Description

  Drumanagh Point Martello Tower No. 9 (Kerrigan 1995, 174) stands in the E quadrant of a coastal promontory fort (DU008-006001-). It was a standard size martello tower with one 24-pounder gun (McEnery 2006, 83). According to Kerrigan (1995, 168) construction of the Dublin area Martello Towers and their batteries commenced in 1804 under the supervision of Colonel Benjamin Fisher of the Royal Engineers and by December 1805 all towers were armed and complete. Kerrigan (ibid.) recorded that; 'Twelve towers were constructed north of Dublin: each tower mounted one 24-pounder, apart from the tower on Ireland's Eye with two 24-pounders. No batteries were constructed with these towers'. Located in a field of pasture at the E end of a promontory fort (DU008-006001-). This is a squat cylindrical tower built of masonry, which has been rendered. Traces of a sunken roadway lead from the S end of the defences of the promontory fort to the entrance of the martello tower. The entrance is on the west side and is positioned above ground level. It is defended by machicolation carried on corbels. The interior is lit by small square opes. A latrine stands east of the tower (Kerrigan 1996, 175). In 1821 Drumanagh tower was in use by the Preventive Water Guard to combat smuggling. It was transferred to the War Department in 1855 when it had 12 rank and file troops occupying the tower in 1857. It was disarmed by 1874. In 1908, the War Department sold the tower to General Palmer of Kenure Park, Rush for £50 (Bolton et al. 2012, 152). Drumanagh Martello Tower (NIAH Reg. No. 11318004) described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) as a; 'Martello tower, built 1804-6, on a circular plan with tapered profile, having machicolation supported by brackets over former entrance door. ROOF: Corbelled stone with stone coping to parapet. WALLS: Lime render over limestone rubble. OPENINGS: Square headed former entrance door opening with limestone rubble reveals and soffit; door no longer remains' (https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/11318004/drumanagh-martello-tower-drumanagh-rush-dublin). 3D model of Drumanagh Martello Tower accessible at https://skfb.ly/6Cnvw This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 13/1977). See attached plans of Drumanagh Martello Tower No. 9 dated 1/1/1862 courtesy of the Irish Military Archives - Archival Reference Code: IE/MA/MPD/ad134122-002 Photo © Jonjobaker https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:County_Dublin_-_Drumanagh_Martello_Tower_-_20190609174047.jpg DU008-006003-_05 Martello Tower Drumanagh Patrick Healy Collection, https://hdl.handle.net/10599/1493, © South Dublin Libraries, Local Studies Collection, County Library, Town Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 24 January 2023

• DU008-006004 Enclosure
  Description

  Geophysical survey (Licence no. 12R127) undertaken by the Discovery Programme as part of the ‘Late Iron Age and “Roman” Ireland’ project identified a D-shaped enclosure (43m NW-SE x 26m NE-SW) which is defined by a ditch (1m - 3m in width) located south of an 18th century field system. A number of possible pit-like features were interpreted along its circuit (Dowling 2014, 12). Compiled by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 4 February 2015

• DU008-006005 Structure
  Description

  Geophysical survey (Licence no. 12R127) undertaken by the Discovery Programme as part of the ‘Late Iron Age and “Roman” Ireland’ project identified a structure located in the S half of the enclosure (DU008-006004-). The structure measures c. 12m in diameter and a number of possible pit-type features were recorded in its vicinity (Dowling 2014, 12). Compiled by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 4 February 2015

• DU008-006006 Enclosure
  Description

  Geophysical survey (Licence no. 12R127) undertaken by the Discovery Programme as part of the ‘Late Iron Age and “Roman” Ireland’ project identified a rectangular enclosure (30m N-S)(Dowling 2014, 12). Compiled by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 4 February 2015

• DU008-006007 Enclosure
  Description

  Geophysical survey (Licence no. 12R127) undertaken by the Discovery Programme as part of the ‘Late Iron Age and “Roman” Ireland’ project identified a circular enclosure (c.17m diam.) surrounded by an array of large, pit-type features, many of which form regularly-spaced, arcuate or linear patterns (Dowling 2014, 13). Compiled by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 4 February 2015

• DU008-006008 Ring-ditch
  Description

  Geophysical survey (Licence no. 12R127) undertaken by the Discovery Programme as part of the ‘Late Iron Age and “Roman” Ireland’ project identified a circular ditch (c. 15m diam.) truncated by a field ditch (Dowling 2014, 13). Compiled by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 4 February 2015

• DU008-006009 Ring-ditch
  Description

  Geophysical survey (Licence no. 12R127) undertaken by the Discovery Programme as part of the ‘Late Iron Age and “Roman” Ireland’ project identified the fragmentary remains of a possible circular ditch with a well-defined pit-type feature at its centre (Dowling 2014, 13). Compiled by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 4 February 2015

• DU008-006010 Structure
  Description

  Excavation (C786/E4805) undertaken as part of Fingal County Council’s Digging Drumanagh project identified a rectilinear structure (exposed for c. 7m N-S x 3m E-W) comprised of metalled surface, posthole and large stones in the SW corner of Drumanagh promontory fort (DU008-006001-). Animal bone and artefact rich material associated with the structure indicate textile/craft working. Associated with a series of postholes and pits. Material indicates use during 1st-3rd centuries AD (Baker 2019). References: Baker, C. 2019 Digging Drumanagh Season II, Preliminary Report (Licence C786/E4805) https://www.fingal.ie/digging-drumanagh Compiled by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 6 March 2023

And 2 more.

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).

Ground and risks

Radon

At the centre of this parcel, about 1 in 20 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as low.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of this parcel.

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. 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.

Download this parcel as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its neighbours and buildings, for a drawing program. GeoJSON, in WGS 84, suits a map, and KML opens in Google Earth.

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.