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An earthwork fort was built on low ground around St Catherine's abbey (WA009-005029-) under the direction of Edmund Yorke in the late 1580s as a defence against the Spanish Armada, although it was probably abandoned after 1589. It features on a map of c. 1590 (TCD, MS 4877 (2)). It is not visible at ground level. Archaeological testing (08E0165) on the Bolton St. Yard, c. 50-100m NE of the presumed site, produded evidence of deep silts (T 4-9m) 1.4-1.9m below the present surface (Giacometti 2011). The silts were overlaid by 18th and 19th century industrial rubble but were shallowest at the W, suggesting that the island may have been in that direction. However, no evidence of the fort was uncovered. (Kerrigan 1985 16)
Giacometti, A. (2011) Proposed OPW offices, Bolton Street, Waterford. Urban. in I. Bennett (Ed.) Excavations 2008: summary accounts of excavations in Ireland, 364, No. 1244. Wordwell. Dublin.(Kerrigan 1985, 16)
Kerrigan, P. M. (1985) The fortification of Waterford, Passage and Duncannon 1495 to 1690. Decies, No. 29, 13-23.
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload/revision: 10 June 2011
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