National Grid Ref.

TQ3295080660 

Organisation

DUA 

Type of fieldwork

excavation, watching brief 

Archaeological periods

Roman, Saxon, Medieval, Post-Medieval, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century 

Summary

The excavation of New Fresh Wharf (2-6 Lower Thames Street) was carried out in three stages in 1974-8. Two areas, named Areas I and II during excavation, were supervised by G Clewley (nfw74). In 1975 a third trench was excavated to relocate the Roman quay discovered in Area II; this third trench was called the St Magnus excavation, though it was several metres E of the church (SM75, supervised by J Schofield). In 1975-8 nfw74 and SM75 were written to archive level by J Schofield and L Miller, under the overall title New Fresh Wharf; the St Magnus trench was termed Area III. In 1978 the postponed redevelopment of the site resulted in a watching brief around and incorporating all three areas (resulting in the creation of Areas IV and V) by L Miller (FRE78). The archive report for FRE78 Roman period (ie the quayside) is a separate volume, but post-Roman periods for FRE78 are added to the relevant parts of the New Fresh Wharf archive report (shelved under nfw74). The fitting together of the three sites is also developed in the various publications.The redeveloped site was named St Magnus House, and this name appears in some of the archive reports and in the main excavation report for the Roman period.The main discoveries were as follows:Period 1: traces of a timber revetment, probably an early 2nd-c quay, were followed by silting and then a land revetment probably contemporary with a timber quay (Fig 23) dated by dendrochronology to 209-24 or 209-44 and ceramically to c 235-45; a considered date of 225-45 is proposed. The structure was infilled, probably during construction; the dumping containing a large group of unused samian and Lezoux wares. Further silting preceded the robbing of the quay in the late 3rd c or later. In the late 3rd c a section of the Roman riverside wall was built across the N of the site from W to E, underneath the present S pavement of Lower Thames Street. Period 2: after silting a mid-10th-c rubble bank extended 4m S of the decayed Roman quay and extended 18m E-W; W of it a grid of oak stakes (Fig 24) may have been the posts of a jetty leading to the riverside wall. After mid-10th-11th-c silting further embankments of clay and timber were built, dated by dendrochronology to 991-1000. This embankment was divided into plots by rough fences.Period 3: after further 11th-c silting a further revetment, the first with a vertical face, was built in the late 11th c. After silting of the 11th c, a front-braced revetment dated by dendrochronology to 1188±9 was erected. Masonry foundations for late 12th-c buildings were recorded on five of the plots (Buildings A-E). After internal modifications to the buildings (12th/13th c) the plots were extended to new revetments in the early-mid-13th c.Period 4: from this point assumed associated revetments must have lain S of the recorded areas. Dumps probably behind new revetments in the 13th/14th c were followed by a phase of rebuilding on all plots (Buildings F-H, K-L). After two phases of piecemeal alterations one property was rebuilt (Building J) in the 16th c, and after two phases of development in the 16th and 17th c the site was destroyed in the Great Fire.Period 5: several phases of building from immediately post-Fire to 1952 were recorded. For earlier observations on this site in 1937 and 1950, see GM125 and GM126 above.

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:
BAGL8494, BAGL8993 

No. of Related publications:

5 publication(s).

The Late Roman waterfront in London Britannia Vol:21 (1990). Brigham, T. (Site codes: TR74; PEN79; PDN81; ILA79; TST78; LYD88; UTA87; TEX88; VRY89; BIG82; BWB83; SH74; SH76; SWA81; CUS73; BMK85; NFW74; FRE78; DGH86; BC75, journal article).
Ships of the port of London: first to eleventh centuries AD
English Heritage archaeological report 3 (1994). Marsden, Peter R.V. (Site code: GM182; GM451; GM450; NFW74; BIG82; FW84; HIB79 , archive report). Published by London: English Heritage
London Waterfront Tenements (2002). Schofield, John (Site Code: NFW74; SH74; SWA81; BIG82; BWB83, archive report). Published by Museum of London
The London Waterfront 1200-1750 [An archaeological assessment of four excavations in Thames Street, 1974-83 Part 1: the potential of the evidence (1999). Schofield, John with contributions by Trevor Brigham, Lyn Blackmore, Tony Dyson and Bill White (Site codes: NFW74, SH74, SWA81, BIG82, archive report). Published by Museum of London draft
The Bridgehead and Billingsgate to 1200
Aspects of Saxo-Norman London 3; London and Middlesex Archaeological Society Special Paper 14 (1992). Steedman, Ken; Dyson, Tony; Schofield, John (Site codes: NFW74; SH74; SWA81; BIG82; BWB83;, book). Published by London: London and Middlesex Archaeological Society

Total Registered Find records in database

652

Total Bulk Find records in database

692

Deposited Archive Contents:

Site, Post-ex
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