Digging Deep at Roe Valley

Every week, hundreds of people walk or jog along wooded trials at the site of an upcoming archaeological excavation in Roe Valley Country Park, Limavady.

Archaeologists from NIEA, the University of Leicester and Queen’s University, Belfast have begun a study of the site of a late medieval castle within the park.

Limavady Castle is believed to have been built by the O’Cahan’s in the 15th or 16th century. Based on illustrations and maps from the 17th century the castle appears to have begun its life as a rectangular tower house and was later augmented with two adjoining circular towers, perhaps added by English planter Sir Thomas Phillips who acquired the site in 1611. What remained of the castle was demolished in the 19th century when it was reluctantly destroyed by the present occupier who was obliged to do so by a clause in his lease.

The aim of the survey to date and the upcoming excavation is to investigate the transition of the site from O’Cahan occupation to the establishment of the site as a base for Phillips in 1611. NIEA Archaeologist Paul Logue explains; “While the sign posted site of the O’Cahan castle, the rocky outcrop overlooking the river, is a well known historical landmark, the nearby grounds are a fascinating archaeological landscape.”

Sources suggest that a range of features were once present in this area.These include the medieval castle and a range of constructions attributable to Phillips including a bawn, possible mill, manor house, brew house (or kiln), orchard and gardens and houses possibly built and occupied by his workforce.

Several months ago Geophysical Survey experts from QUB and archaeologists from NIEA worked their way across the site with a resistivity meter. As fans of ‘Time Team’ will know, this builds up a black and white image of the ground below saving time and effort when the excavation begins. One distinctive and promising feature was a pale linear reading near the edge of the lawn, which may be the remains of a defensive stone wall!

While the exact location of Newtown Limavady, in relation to the present town of Limavady, has never been precisely pinpointed, there is no doubt about the locale of Phillip’s developments adjacent to the castle. Archaeological examination of the site promises to shed considerable light upon the nature of both the O’Cahan and Phillip’s occupation of the site.

The hope is that the small testing area, which is to be excavated, retains undisturbed deposits relating to the late medieval and plantation periods of the site as the extant industrial features found elsewhere in the park are not in the vicinity of the castle, most likely due to the extreme steepness of the drop to the river.

The two week excavation will take place from September 1st to September 11th. Members of the public are welcome to come along and see a live excavation or you will be able to follow progress in the archaeologists’ blog here...

For more information about Roe Valey Country Park, see Places to Visit.