Diggers uncover medieval street surface in Trim

A medieval cobbled street surface has been uncovered in Trim while a trench was being dug along Watergate Street as part of the town's street reconstruction programme. The former street was three-and-a-half feet below the current ground level and was discovered as a trench was being excavated to lay a sewer pipe. All excavations in Trim are observed by archaeologists and the area was cleaned off by an archaeological team, mapped and recorded for posterity. The street surface is about 20-30 metres long and town engineer Vincent Collins explained that it is similar to the street surface found during works on Haggard Street some years ago. According to local historian, Noel French, Watergate Street was probably laid down at the time Hugh de Lacy established the town in the late 12th century and early 13th century. He explained that the street remained there until 1908, when it was removed for the construction of Watergate Bridge. There are still photos in existence of the old Watergate, he added. Watergate guarded the ford of Trim and the first bridge was not built until 1908. Watergate was the second last gate to survive in the town, and the last remaining gate is Sheepgate.