National Grid Ref.

TQ3238081270 

Organisation

DUA 

Type of fieldwork

excavation 

Archaeological periods

Roman, Saxon, Medieval, Post-Medieval 

Summary

Seven periods of Roman occupation were recorded. In Periods I and II (both pre-Neronian), two distinct structures were evidenced by slots and post-holes. One of these did not align with the N-S gravelled Roman street found in the E of the site, and both structures are thought to predate its setting-out. In Period III (Flavian) at least two buildings, one of which included concrete floors and a tessellated pavement, fronted onto the street, and were bounded by an open area to the S and W. In Period IV (Trajanic), these were replaced by a structure interpreted as a lean-to against a larger structure off site to the W, and the area adjacent to the street on the E now became external. The suggested lean-to was replaced in Period V (c 120-5) by another light structure which was destroyed in the Hadrianic fire. In Period VI (c 125-30), slots of a massive building cut into the fire debris may represent temporary reuse of the area, before extensive rebuilding in Period VII (mid-2nd c). The back of a timber building including a tessellated floor (Fig 31; now on display in MoL) lay in the W of the site, and was bounded on the E by a gravelled yard. A well was sunk to the N of the building. The building was dismantled by the end of the Antonine period, and the site was covered with dark earth (Period X). The street probably remained in use beyond the 2nd c, although its later surfaces were less well laid. In Period VIII (10th c) a sunken-floored structure was cut through the W side of the Roman street, with an entrance porch actually on the street itself, suggesting that the latter survived in some form, if only as a rough track. The structure became filled with rubbish, but was later cleared out and reoccupied before its final disuse. In Period IX (?10th c) a second sunken-floored structure cut a corner of the first and lay on top of the Roman street. Both sunken-floored structures were truncated, but they presumably lay in or above the dark earth horizon. Above the dark earth were traces of a light timber structure (Period XI, 10th c), along the Milk Street frontage, and a large number of medieval pits (Period XII, late 9th-12th c), some with plank or wattle linings. In Period XIII (12th-15th c) stone buildings were constructed along the Milk Street frontage. A substantial early medieval stone building (Fig 32), medieval cesspits and wells, and the foot of a stair of a medieval undercroft in the N of the site were recorded. A late 17th-c house on Russia Court was recorded by the GLC Historic Buildings Division before demolition.

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

See Also:
BAGL5876, BAGL8782 

No. of Related publications:

2 publication(s).

The Milk Street Excavation London Archaeologist Vol:3 Issue8 (1978-09). Roskams, Steve (Site code: MLK76, journal article).
The Milk Street Excavation: Part 2 London Archaeologist Vol:3 Issue9 (1978-12). Roskams, Steve; Schofield, John (Site code: MLK76, journal article).

Total Registered Find records in database

1534

Total Bulk Find records in database

4635

Deposited Archive Contents:

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