House — medieval in Bray

On the SE-facing slopes of Bray Head on Valencia Island. This is one of six buildings (see KE087-080002-; KE087-080003-; KE087-080004-; KE087-080006-; KE087-080007-) which make up a 'street' of house-platforms that extend for c. 70m along an E-W line (Mitchell et al. n.d.). Archaeological excavation of this building revealed a rectangular two-roomed, drystone-walled (T 0.8-1.25m; H c. 0.5m) house (ext. L 11.6m). There was a doorway for each room in the E wall of the house (Hayden 2003, 162). The internal face of the walls, especially in the N half of the S room, followed a bowed line. The house contained no formal flooring but extensive spreads of ash, post-holes and hearths attests to its occupation. No datable finds were recovered but, according to the excavator (ibid.) the building is likely to be later medieval in date (see KE087-080002-). (Mitchell et al. n.d.; Hayden 2001; Hayden 2003) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 May 2011