AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

Cork
The presence of an early monastery and a sheltered harbour in a tidal river estuary
undoubtedly attracted the attention of the Scandinavians to Cork. The annals record
Scandinavian raids at Cork in A.D. 821, 839, 915, 962, 978, 1013, 1089 and 1098 and
indicate that some form of settlement had been established by A.D. 848 when Ólchobar Mac
Cináeda, King of Cashel attacked Dún Corcaighe (Jefferies 1985, 15). Another ninth-century
reference record the Scandinavian caisteol (castle) which was possible destroyed in A.D. 865
(Jefferies 1985, 15). The raid at Cork in A.D. 915 may have been a prelude to a renewed
occupation of the site in the early tenth century and was possibly associated with the arrival
of a fleet to Waterford in A.D. 914 and the re-foundation of Dublin in A.D. 917 (Bradley &
Halpin 1993, 19).
Based on topographical information from a charters dating to the initial years of Anglo-
Norman activity (1177-82), it has been suggested that the South Island was the nucleus of
the Scandinavian town (Fig. 67) with an accompanying area of settlement on the south Bank
to the south of South Gate Bridge (Candon 1985, 93-5). Within the South bank was the
parish church of Holy Trinity (Christchurch) - a dedication common to the Scandinavian towns
of Dublin and Waterford. Other early foundations include St. Nessan’s church on the north
bank of the Lee, St. Peter’s on the North Island and the church of St. Sepulchre, St. Michael,
St. Mary del Nard, St. Bridget and an Augustinian Priory (Gill Abbey); all on the south bank of
the south channel.
There is no known ninth- or tenth-century Scandinavian archaeological horizon at Cork with
the earliest evidence from various sites in the South Island and Barrack Street on the South
Bank dating from the late eleventh century. Though the pre-Norman archaeological evidence
is concentrated on the South Island, it is quite possible that further excavations may confirm
that the area of the South Gate Bridge- spanning the south channel of the River Lee- was the
physical centre of the earliest Scandinavian settlement (Cleary & Hurley 2003, 156). The
archaeological evidence confirms that the settlement on the marshy South Island developed
northwards.
Originally, the early twelfth-century settlement in South Main Street consisted of a series of
artificially raised clay platforms surrounded by wooden fences or revetments. The settlement
platforms may initially have been connected with each other by wooden boardwalks but were
gradually linked together as the channels were in-filled and the South island was created. The
South Island appears to have been one single unit by the late twelfth century containing one
main central north-south street- modern South Main Street- on the highest and driest part of
the island. The South Island was enclosed by a stone wall by the early thirteenth century
(Hurley & Power 1981; Hurley 1985; Cleary & Hurley 2003).
St. Peter’s church was situated on the North Island and may also have an early origin
(Candon 1985, 91-103). A stratigraphically early ditch was excavated at Grattan Street and a
seventh-eighth century baluster head pin from the site may indicate an early settlement,
possibly monastic, in the area of St. Peter’s church (Lennon 2003, 63). The marshy ground of
the North Island was known as the suburb of Dungarvan in medieval texts. The island was
not extensively inhabited until the latter thirteenth century when a long spinal main street
developed. Both islands were connected with each other by a bridge located roughly at the
junction of Liberty Street and North and South Main Street and were completely walled by the
early fourteenth century (Hurley 1995, 63-79; Hurley 1996; Hurley 2003b, 173-81). The fully
developed fortified core of medieval Cork was confined to the two marshy islands linked
together by a long spinal main street terminating in gate towers and bridges.
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