PHILPOTSTOWN 1
| Site Name/Townland | Description | Provisional site type | Provisional dating |
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| Philpotstown 1 | Building foundations | Post Office and Smithy | Early Modern |
The building foundations of a 19th century post office and smithy were initially uncovered during testing in 2004 at Dillon’s Bridge, in Philpotstown townland. Archaeological excavations carried out by ACS Ltd at this site, located on the east side of the present N3 Dublin-Navan road, are now substantially complete.
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Extract of first edition Ordnance Survey map (1836) showing the location of Philpotstown 1, which is indicated by the blue circle in the lower centre of the image. The site is located on the east side of the main Dunshaughlin to Navan road (coming from Dublin), which runs south-east to north-west through the map. (Maps reproduced from copy in Trinity College Library, Dublin, with permission of the Board of Trinity College. OS Sheet 31, Scale 1:10,560) |
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| 19th century post office and smithy at Philpotstown (Photo StudioLab) |
The archaeological excavations revealed a rectangular structure, with its long axis parallel to the main road. Internally the structure is divided into three main areas, each serving a distinct purpose: a post office, a dwelling and a smithy. Such diversity of use within the one structure is a common feature of rural architecture, where, for example, shops and houses often occupied the same building. An extensive cobbled area surrounds the structure and is missing only from the ground to the rear (north-east) of the buildings.
Cartographic evidence suggests that the structure underwent a number of changes during its existence, which is reflected in the depictions on the early Ordnance Survey maps. The archaeological excavations also appear to suggest several different phases, as evidenced by the moving or removal of internal walls, the build-up of floor levels and a slight extension of the structure along its north-eastern side.
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Structures at Philpotstown 1 as depicted on first edition Ordnance Survey map (1836). Only one structure is shown on this edition OS map and as with the structure depicted on later editions, its long axis lies parallel with the main road. The structure is rectangular in plan with two spurs projecting from the rear wall. The scale of the map does not allow detailed analysis of the structure. No evidence of the ‘spurs’ were uncovered during the excavation and it is possible that these were wooden out-houses or sheds, which have left no trace in the archaeological record. There is no annotation on this edition OS map to indicate the function of the structure. |
| Structures at Philpotstown 1 as depicted on second edition Ordnance Survey map (1882). This late 19th century edition shows two separate structures: a long rectangular building (without ‘spurs’) named as Post Office and a small square structure to the south-east. | 
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| Structures at Philpotstown 1 as depicted on third edition Ordnance Survey map (1911), showing two separate buildings: a larger rectangular structure (designated Post Office) in the north-west half of the plot and a smaller structure to the south-east. Both structures are aligned with their long axis parallel to the road. Although the smaller structure appears to be designated ‘Smithy’, this annotation may instead also refer to the larger structure housing the Post Office. Archaeological excavation at the site has revealed that the larger rectangular structure had internal divisions not depicted on the OS map and served as post office, dwelling and smithy. The smaller structure was also uncovered during excavation and has been shown to have a modern concrete floor. It is planned to remove this concrete surface at a later date in order to identify any earlier surfaces / material that it may obscure. |
Post office / dwelling
The post office and dwelling are located in the northwestern half of the structure. The internal dividing wall supported one chimney, which probably allowed for two fireplaces, one on each side of the wall. A threshold of flagstones formed the main entrance to this part of the structure, which would have fronted onto the main road. This entrance appears to have served both the post office and the dwelling. Houses divided by an internal wall with a centrally located hearth were usually entered through a small lobby. Tiles found inside the entrance to the post office and dwelling during the excavation suggests that the small lobby of this structure was at least partially tiled.
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| Archaeologist recording stone foundations at Philpotstown 1, Section 2. (Photo StudioLab) |
Smithy
The entrance to the smithy was located at the side of the building, facing south-east. Local man Brendan Farrelly recalls horses being walked around to this side of the building, which was entered through an arched opening, to be shod. Excavation uncovered a floor area formed of wooden planks just inside the entrance. A charcoal-rich deposit on the floor surface at the rear wall suggests this as the probable location of the forge.
A large stone feature was uncovered alongside the present field boundary, close to the south-western corner of the smithy. This consisted of one or more large stone slabs which appear to be a re-used broken mill-stone, with smaller stones forming a kerb around it. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this may have been a wheel-former, used by the blacksmith in the production of cart wheels. Local man Brendan Farrelly recalls a ‘trammel’ being used at the forge to measure the size of the wheels for carts.
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Download recently published articles on Philpotstown 1 in our Publications section.
Artefacts
Artefacts recovered during the excavation include a large number of 19th and 20th century coins that were recovered when the latest floor level was removed in the post office. The domestic function of the site was also well represented in the artefacts found, which included numerous sherds of earthenware pottery. In addition to these, items related to the smithing process were found, such as fragments of wheel braces and horse bits.
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| Farthing 1860, reverse showing figure of Britannia | One penny 1884 reverse showing figure of Britannia |
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| One penny 1918 obverse, showing head of King George V | One penny 1918 reverse, showing figure of Brittania |
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| Base sherd of earthenware pottery | Rim sherd of earthenware pottery |
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| One of two leather straps found during excavation |
Return to Section 2.
Final Report
Please click on the link to access the final archaeological report for Philpotstown 1
| Final Report of Philpotstown 1 | 2.61MB |
