National Grid Ref.

TQ3352081190 

Organisation

DUA 

Type of fieldwork

excavation, watching brief 

Archaeological periods

Roman, Medieval, Post-Medieval 

Summary

The recording of a 30m section across the defences revealed a sequence of activity from before ad120 to the 17th c. The earliest dated feature was a shallow flat-bottomed ditch (probably a pre-wall boundary), the fill of which contained pottery of c ad120 and the remains of two human skeletons. The foundation trench for the city wall was cut through a deposit which yielded pottery of c 180, as did the internal bank and deposits dumped against the external face of the wall. The wall survived to its full width of 2.7m and to a height of 1.7m above the plinth. A longitudinal section through the wall facilitated the recording of details of its construction: a singular feature was an offset on its external face. A V-shaped ditch, 3.5m from the wall, was possibly contemporary with its construction. A localised change in the construction of the wall proved to be the blocking of a doorway and passage, and it is likely that this medieval postern was a private thoroughfare for the incumbents of Holy Trinity Priory. Other features of the priory recorded include a doorway and undercroft in the dorter. An arched brick wall constructed parallel to and up against the internal face of the city wall is probably part of a medieval renovation. Two large medieval ditches and a ?Civil War ditch were cut into by a series of post-medieval pits which contained substantial groups of pottery including six pots (four containing paint), a stoneware sherd dated 1591, delftware wasters, kiln furniture and a vitrified brick. A stoneware Bellarmine jug containing the remains of pins is thought to have been a witch bottle.

Source: Schofield, John with Maloney, Cath (eds.) (1998). Archaeology in the City of London, 1907-1991: a guide to records of excavations by the Museum of London and its predecessors. The Archaeological Gazetteer Series, Volume 1. London: Museum of London. ISBN 0-904818-81-0. 

Related sites:

None linked 

No. of Related publications:

4 publication(s).

Excavations at Dukes Place: The Roman Defences London Archaeologist Vol:3 Issue11 (1979). Maloney, J (Site code: DUK77, journal article). Published by The London Archaeologist
Recent work on London's defences [Roman urban defences in the west: a review of current research on urban defences in the Roman Empire with special reference to the northern provinces]
CBA Research Report 51 (1983). Maloney, John (Site codes LD74; BC75; LD76; DUK77; HOU78; TOL39; XWL79, archive report section). Published by London: Council for British Archaeology
Dukes Place and Houndsditch: the medieval defences London Archaeologist Vol:3 Issue13 (1979-12). Maloney, John; Harding, Charlotte (Site codes: DUK77; HOU78, journal article).
Holy Trinity Priory, Aldgate, City of London MoLAS Monograph 24 (2005). Schofield J and Lea R (Site code: LEA84; CASS72; LHN89; MIT86; HTP79; MIR84; DUK77;. GM53; CRE79; GM55; LAH88, book). Published by Museum of London Archaeology Service

Total Registered Find records in database

249

Total Bulk Find records in database

515

Deposited Archive Contents:

Project planning, Site, Post-ex, Research
View all available archive records by category