Dublin
2000:0291
12–13 USHER STREET, DUBLIN
Urban post-medieval
3145323413
SMR 18:20
00E0103
An assessment of a proposed development at 12–13 Usher Street, Dublin 8, was carried out from 25 to 26 July 2000, to define, as far as was reasonably possible, potential impacts on the archaeological resource as a result of the proposed construction of a block of student accommodation containing twelve apartments.

The assessment revealed that Trenches 1 and 2, located in No. 13, contained the remains of one or more 18th–19th-century cobbled surfaces associated with metalworking activity. This evidence would appear to tally with Rocque’s representation of the site, which indicated that by the 1750s it functioned as some form of yard. This activity was followed by several episodes of 18th–19th-century dumping, which was sealed by a later cobbled surface and associated wall. This surface, located in Trench 2, did not extend into Trench 1, which lay c. 7m to the west, suggesting that it was quite localised. The proximity of this surface to the present ground level and the type of layers that it sealed suggest that it was 19th–20th-century in date. The function of this surface is unclear. It may have been part of a yard to the rear of the buildings fronting onto Usher Street.

The earlier surfaces occurred at 0.9–1.1m below PGL and as a result will not be affected by the development, which has a maximum excavation depth of 750mm below PGL.

Trenches 3 and 4, located within No. 12, contained nothing of archaeological significance. The stratigraphy within these trenches consisted of a concrete floor slab overlying modern rubble.
Rob Lynch, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 8 Dungar Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

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