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Dublin
Murray’s (1983, 43–57) study of the relationship between Hiberno-Scandinavian buildings identified
differences in the size and function of the plots at High Street, Christchurch Place and Winetavern
Street. The plots on High Street were usually large with small buildings. However, there were larger
structures within the plots at Christchurch Place and the buildings were set back further from the
street and had individual pathways leading to their entrances. Winetavern Street was similar to High
Street in that small buildings were placed on either side of a pathway in a congested layout.
STRUCTURES
Types
This section will identify the different types of structures that were present in Scandinavian Dublin
and follows with descriptions of some of these buildings from a variety of excavation reports. Wallace
(1992a) has identified five types of Scandinavian buildings in Dublin. Type 1 buildings comprise the
vast majority of excavated examples and have been found from the mid-ninth/twelfth-century levels.
Type 1 structures were long, rectangular buildings with rounded corners (Fig. 128). They had low
post-and-wattle walls and a roof that was supported by two pairs of large posts that were set in from
the side and end walls. A stone-lined hearth was centrally placed and doors were usually located at
each end of the building. The buildings were divided by aisles and the long central floor was flanked
on both sides by built-up bedding which ran parallel to the side walls. The average floor area was
40m 2 (Wallace 1992a, 9–14).
Fig. 128: Plan of Type 1 House (after Simpson 1999, 11).
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