Archaeological Assessment at Beach Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4 On
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AT BEACH ROAD, SANDYMOUNT, DUBLIN 4 ON BEHALF OF: MAXOL PROPERTY LIMITED AUTHOR: MAEVE TOBIN MAY 2021 Beach Road, Archaeological Assessment Sandymount, Dublin 4 ABSTRACT Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd has prepared this report on behalf of Maxol Property Limited to study the impact, if any, on the archaeological and historical resource of the proposed redevelopment of a site on the Beach Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4 (OS Sheet 22). The report was undertaken by Maeve Tobin of IAC Ltd. The proposed development area is situated within the townland of Irishtown in Donnybrook Parish, Dublin 4. The site currently comprises a garage show room and petrol station, with adjoining forecourt. The site has undergone significant excavation and disturbance to facilitate the construction of underground fuel storage tanks. The zone of notification for settlement DU018-054 extends partially within the northern boundary of the current site however a review of the historic mapping indicates that the focus of Irishtown lay to the north of Church Avenue. Previous archaeological investigations carried out along Irishtown Road have not identified any historic fabric pre-dating the current buildings. It appears that the proposed development area remained as undeveloped tidal marsh land until it was reclaimed in the early 19th century. A house, Erith Lodge, and gatehouse were built on the site at this time and these continued in use well into the 20th century. No extant remains of these buildings survive. While the site is partially located within the periphery of the zone of notification for the historic settlement of Irishtown (DU018-054) it is clear that the area has been subject to significant ground disturbance during the later 20th century to facilitate construction of the complex. As such, no negative impacts are predicted upon the archaeological resource as a result of the development going ahead. No further archaeological mitigation is deemed to be required as part of the proposed development. IRISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANCY LTD i Beach Road, Archaeological Assessment Sandymount, Dublin 4 CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... I CONTENTS ................................................................................................................. II List of Figures............................................................................................................. iii List of Plates .............................................................................................................. iii 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 General ............................................................................................................ 1 1.2 The Development ............................................................................................ 1 2 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Paper Survey .................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Field Inspection ................................................................................................ 5 3 RESULTS OF DESKTOP STUDY ............................................................................. 6 3.1 Archaeological and Historical Background ...................................................... 6 3.2 Summary of Previous Archaeological Fieldwork .............................................. 8 3.3 Cartographic Analysis ...................................................................................... 8 3.4 City Development Plan .................................................................................... 9 3.5 Aerial Photographic Analysis ........................................................................... 9 4 RESULTS OF FIELD INSPECTION ........................................................................ 10 4.1 Field Inspection .............................................................................................. 10 4.2 Conclusions .................................................................................................... 10 5 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION STRATEGY .......................................... 11 5.1 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................ 11 5.2 Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 11 6 REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 12 APPENDIX 1 SMR/RMP SITES WITHIN THE SURROUNDING AREA ............................ I APPENDIX 2 STRAY FINDS WITHIN THE SURROUNDING AREA ................................ III APPENDIX 3 LEGISLATION PROTECTING THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE ......... IV APPENDIX 4 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND THE CULTURAL HERITAGE RESOURCE.... VII APPENDIX 5 MITIGATION MEASURES AND THE CULTURAL HERITAGE RESOURCE . IX FIGURES PLATES ii IRISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANCY LTD Beach Road, Archaeological Assessment Sandymount, Dublin 4 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Site location (Google Earth, May 2017) Figure 2 Extract from the RMP map showing the proposed development area Figure 3 Plan of the proposed development Figure 4 Extract from historic maps (1655–1816) showing approximate location of proposed development area Figure 5 Extract from historic maps (1837 and 1906) showing the proposed development area LIST OF PLATES Plate 1 Proposed development area, facing northwest Plate 2 Proposed development area, facing northwest Plate 3 Church Avenue bordering site to north, facing west Plate 4 Church and Graveyard (DU018-054001–2), facing northwest IRISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANCY LTD iii Beach Road, Archaeological Assessment Sandymount, Dublin 4 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 GENERAL The following report details an archaeological assessment undertaken in advance of a proposed redevelopment of a site on Beach Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4 (Figure 1). This assessment has been carried out to ascertain the potential impact of the proposed development on the archaeological and historical resource that may exist within the area. The assessment was undertaken by Maeve Tobin of Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, on behalf of Maxol Property Limited. The archaeological assessment involved a detailed study of the archaeological and historical background of the proposed development site and the surrounding area. This included information from the Record of Monuments and Places of Dublin, the topographical files within the National Museum and all available cartographic and documentary sources for the area (Figure 2). A field inspection has also been carried out with the aim to identify any previously unrecorded features of archaeological or historical interest. 1.2 THE DEVELOPMENT Maxol Property Limited intend to apply to An Bord Pleanála for permission for a strategic housing development at this site Maxol Filling Station and a vacant motor sales/service garage (formerly Michael Grant Motors), Beach Road, Dublin 4 (Eircodes D04 A9P3 and D04 T4A0). The development will consist of: the demolition and removal of all existing buildings and associated structures above and below ground (total 1,311 sq m) and the construction of a 6-storey apartment building (with set-backs at Third, Fourth and Fifth Floor Levels) (accommodating 112 No. apartments (56 No. 1-bed and 56 No. 2- bed units) and 297 sq m communal space primarily comprising a gym, lounge, work space, bookable room, office and parcel store) over single basement level (accommodating 79 No. car parking spaces (including 2 No. car club spaces), 4 No. motorbike parking spaces, 224 No. bicycle spaces, together with ancillary areas including circulation, plant, attenuation tank, waste management storage areas, and service areas). Vehicular and pedestrian access to the site will be from Beach Road with additional pedestrian access via Church Avenue; (the total gross floor area of the proposed development is 12,273 sq m (including basement of 2,679 sq m and a detached single storey ground floor ESB Substation/ switchroom of 25 sq m)). The development will also consist of the provision of: private open space in the form of balconies and terraces (on the Beach Road, Church Avenue frontages and to the rear of the building on the northwestern, southeastern and southwestern facades), and semi-private and public open space at ground level; all hard and soft landscaping including boundary treatments; changes in levels; plant; PV panels; SUDs' measures including a green roof; 10 No. bicycle spaces at ground level; waste collection area; 1 IRISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANCY LTD Beach Road, Archaeological Assessment Sandymount, Dublin 4 and all other associated site excavation and site development works above and below ground. IRISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANCY LTD 2 Beach Road, Archaeological Assessment Sandymount, Dublin 4 2 METHODOLOGY Research for this report was undertaken in two phases. The first phase comprised a paper survey of all available archaeological, historical and cartographic sources. The second phase involved a field inspection of the site. 2.1 PAPER SURVEY • Record of Monuments and Places for County Dublin; • Sites and Monuments Record for County Dublin; • National Monuments in State Care Database; • Preservation Orders List; • Topographical