Oldest Building In L'Derry Unearthed

A building pre-dating L'Derry has been found by archaeologists digging in the walled city.

The building, only a small part of which has survived, is believed to have been burnt down during the O’Doherty rising of 1608. It had stone foundations and a cellar above which the upper floors were constructed of timber. When the building burnt down, its wooden walls and roof collapsed into the cellar. These have now been discovered, just over 400 years later.

A collection of artefacts was unearthed during the dig including musket balls, a small cannon ball, pottery sherds, clay pipes and a number of intact wine bottles. The earliest find was a sherd of medieval pottery dating to AD1200-1400.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: "This is a truly exciting and important discovery. Archaeologists working for the Apprentice Boys have uncovered the earliest dated building in Derry and it is fitting that some of the artefacts uncovered will now go on display in the new museum.

"The building’s alignment is east-west and has been dated to the early 1600s. The east-west alignment is radically different to our present day Walled City street pattern. This clearly shows the building reflects the earlier street pattern based on the ecclesiastical settlement that pre-existed the plantation town of Londonderry. The building was burnt down prior to the construction of our Walled City and the 'best-fit' event for that fire would seem to be the 1608 O'Doherty rebellion when all the houses in Derry were burnt by Cahir O'Doherty's troops.

"A very small fired-clay tobacco pipe that dates to the period of Elizabeth I has further helped to date the early building. A small cannon ball from the time of the O’Doherty rebellion in 1608 was also found on the cellar floor of the early building but we may never know if it was fired in anger.

"Although the dig doesn’t appear to have found any remains dating to the 1689 Siege of Derry, rare finds have been uncovered including two complete glass bottles and near complete plates dating from the 1700s."

The building and artefacts were discovered during an eight-week excavation in the area, which was formerly occupied by the Walker Memorial Garden on Society Street.

(IT/MH)