Town defences in Dalkey

The S defences of the medieval borough of Dalkey are defined by a dense hedge line that runs along a linear escarpment in the slope (H 2m) and forms the S limit of the burgage plots that fronts onto Castle Street in Dalkey Village. A possible associated bank (Wth 3m, H 2m) has been identified behind Bay View House and Melrose. It is bounded by Cunningham Road to the S and Dalkey Avenue to the W. The W line of defence of Dalkey may be represented by a long linear boundary running S from Barnhill Road, to the corner of Green Banks House (326441/226915). The E end of Castle Street probably marks the limit of the medieval town on the E side. The N limit has not been identified. Excavations in 1996 at 59 Castle Street uncovered a ditch directly below the partition wall between houses No. 7 and No. 8 which may represent the S extent of a burgage plot (96E0297; Murtagh, 1997, 18). In 1482 the bailiff of Dalkey was granted the right to levy customs on all goods and merchandise coming into Dalkey and to use the money for murgage and pavage (McNeill 1950, 247). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout and Padraig Clancy Revised upload on: 18 June 2018