Conservation works to start on Navan’s medieval town wall
Conservation work will begin shortly on the Navan's Medieval town wall at Abbey Road.
The most prominent and impressive surviving part of the town walls of Navan consists of a 15-metre stretch of wall and a semi-circular bastion, 80cm thick and rising to a height of 5.5m at Abbey Road.
The work will include the removal of vegetation, consolidation with lime mortar and pinning and pointing missing joints with small salvaged stones.
A conservation and management plan for the walls, which was commissioned by Meath County Council in association with Navan Historical Society, will also be published shortly.
It was prepared by Fergal McNamara, 7L Architects in collaboration with archaeologist Clare Ryan MIAI.
The plan assesses the history, cultural significance, and current condition of the walled town of Navan – in terms of its known standing remains, buried archaeology, layout and associated buildings. It also outlines a conservation strategy and makes recommendations for enhancement, improved management and interpretation.
Funding was provided for the plan from Community Monuments Fund (CMF).
The plan was then submitted as part of an application for funding from this year's allocation of monies from the CMF and €81,000 was secured for the conservation works to repair the bastion and adjacent town wall section.
The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy said the conservation of the Medieval Town Walls will provide an opportunity to develop a town centre medieval walking trail in Navan.
"Such an attraction would compliment existing and planned tourism infrastructure and make a positive contribution to the trade and employment that will build up around those.
"I'm delighted to see the project take another significant step forward and I look forward to the publication of the conservation plan. Of particular interest in that plan are the recommendations it proposes around public access strategies.
"I thank the council for engaging constructively on this project. I'd also like to thank local archaeologist Clare Ryan. Research she compiled over several years is bearing fruit now by feeding into the conservation process.
"The council's plan to join the Irish Walled Towns Network is a welcome move that will further enhance the project. I look forward to the projects development as part of Navan's town centre tourism trade over the coming years," he said.
The walls enclosed an area of around 13 acres. They enabled the control and exploitation of the two bridges across the Boyne and Blackwater converged to the north-east of the medieval town. The burgesses of Navan had been granted the right in around 1470 to impose tolls on all goods coming for sale into the town for three miles around, in order to build and maintain the pavements of the town. The walled town was made up of three streets: Trimgate; Ludlow and Watergate Street. Access to the walled area was controlled by three gates named Dublin, Trim and Watergate.
A portion of the wall still exists to the rear of Leon's Cafe towards Bedford Place, as well as an extremely large stone structure underground at Timmons Hill which was discovered during broadband works.