What is recorded here

Gallows in Unknown Townland marked the eastern edge of North King Street where condemned bodies from Newgate prison were cast into shallow pits rather than granted decent burial. Under modern pavement, hundreds of skeletons still lie tangled together, some adults and children aligned east-west, others infants twisted north-south as if dumped in haste. The site transforms a busy Dublin corner into a crowded chamber of forgotten victims, forcing passersby to imagine the fear, noise and abandonment hidden beneath ordinary feet.

The site lies at the eastern end of North King Street, from 189-194 on the southern side of the street, and extends along Halston Street and Green Street. Known originally as Abbey Green, 1558 is the first recorded usage of that name. An archaeological assessment in 1988 revealed in situ articulated and dis-articulated skeletons across the site. The site appears to be a burial-ground. The burials consist of adult male and female burials and infant burials. All are buried in an east-west direction, apart from two infant burials that were buried roughly north-south and lay just inside the site at the Green Street side. Excavations revealed eighteen fully articulated skeletons. The skeletons consist of male and female adults and some children. Initial examination dates them to the late 17th/early 18th century. The site was once home to the city's gallows. Further excavations on the site in 1999 uncoveredc.430 articulated human skeletons along with c. 120 disarticulated human remains. These are likely to be late in date and asssociated with executions at Newgate prison (Nelis 2000, 71-2).

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.