National Grid Ref.

TQ3207080830 

Organisation

DUA 

Type of fieldwork

excavation 

Archaeological periods

Medieval, Post-Medieval 

Summary

Excavations in 1974-6 revealed a series of timber and stone riverfront revetments and associated features erected on the Thames foreshore from the mid-13th-mid-15th c (Fig 25). It was possible to plot the differing development and rates of riverfront extension during this period on three adjacent properties.The earliest feature was a freestanding structure or platform which was built on the foreshore possibly c 1250. During the mid-13th and 14th c a series of closely datable revetments successively advanced the waterfront to the S into the Thames. These revetments were horizontally planked and both front- and back-braced; one survived to a height of 2.5m. Behind the waterfronts and above the contemporary infilling, surfaces of gravel and stone chips, and buildings were laid out. In about 1346 the E section of the earlier revetment was advanced about 3m to the S with the erection of a back-braced revetment, several of the timbers of which were reused boat strakes. Its W limit may have marked a property boundary. A substantial building was erected behind this waterfront, the chalk rubble of its S wall encasing the earlier revetment. At about the same time 2m to the W of the timber revetment a riverwall of irregular courses of dressed ragstone was constructed, the inlet between the two waterfronts being aligned on the S end of Bosse Alley. In about 1370 a back-braced 'stave wall' advanced the timber waterfront in the W; in the E it replaced the earlier revetment. About 6.5m of the foreshore was reclaimed c 1383 when the E end of the waterfront was advanced with the construction of a back-braced revetment. The 'stave wall' was then heightened or a second storey replaced. A new building was erected above the demolished earlier one, one wall of its earliest phase being constructed of uncoursed greensand and chalk rubble; there seems to have been a yard to its S (ie at the water's edge). A number of jetties, landing-stages and other features were recorded on the foreshore. The subdivided waterfront then underwent a major rebuild c 1483. A massive ragstone-faced riverwall was constructed to the S of the timber revetments to produce a common frontage and stair which functioned with the earlier riverwall. Associated with this riverfront was a narrow building fronting E onto Trig Lane which may have been used for industrial purposes. This riverfront lasted until the 17th c.Reclamation was resumed in the 17th c, in the areas to the W and S of the riverwall. Buildings were constructed above the earlier waterfronts, represented by brick and rubble walls, brick or mortar floors, and hearths. Other post-medieval features included drains and a well.The watching brief on the site during construction works in 1984 is recorded under TIG84. For the revised finds dating of the major waterfront groups, see Vince 1985, 85-6.The tl74 excavations of 1974-6 were next to the Thames and S of the new alignment of the widened Upper Thames Street (from 1974, in this area, the street was rebuilt as a ground-level tunnel under the site of the intended new City of London Boys' School). Some observation of the N ends of Trig Lane and adjacent alleys S of the former Upper Thames Street took place in 1972-3 before the construction of the tunnel, by J Haslam. The records of these observations are kept in the archive under the site code BC72 (Baynard's Castle, which was the main excavation in the area at the time of the first construction).

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:
BAGL5903, BAGL7422 

No. of Related publications:

16 publication(s).

Trig Lane Excavations [Mosaic] London Archaeologist Vol:2 Issue8 (1974-09).
Waterfront archaeology in Britain and northern Europe: a review of current research in waterfront archaeology in six European countries
CBA Research Report 41 (1981). Milne, Gustav; Hobley, Brian (eds)
Medieval waterfront development at Trig Lane, London: an account of the excavations at Trig Lane, London, 1974-6 and related research
London and Middlesex Archaeological Society Special Paper 5 (1982). Milne, Gustav; Milne, Chrissie (eds) ( , book). Published by London: London and Middlesex Archaeological Society
Procuratorial tile stamps from London Britannia Vol:26 (1995). Betts, I.M. (Site code: VAL88; PIC87; PCH85; GPO75; ABC87; WFG22; MIL72; GAG87; GYE92; CHL84; MGT87; OPT81; LDW84; LOW88; FIB88; BOS87; ASQ87; NHA86; LIM83; WIV88; LCT84; TR74; PDN81; LYD88; BLH73; QUN85; TEX88; VRY89; UPT90; BUF90; SLO82; DMT88; ORM88; WAT78; MC73; S, journal article).
A Bronze Seal Matrix from Trig Lane, London [Exhibits at Ballots] Antiquaries Journal Vol:LVI (1976). Cherry, John
Seal Matrices [Pilgrim Souvenirs from the Medieval Waterfront Excavations at Trig Lane] Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society Vol:33 (1982). Cherry, John
Potassium-argon determinations on some London medieval honestones Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society Vol:38 (1987). Crosby, D.D.B.; Mitchell, J.G. (Site code:POM79; BC72; BIG82; LUD82; SWA81; TL74, journal article).
Trig Lane [Round-up] Current Archaeology Vol:V (2) Issue49 (1975-03). Harrison, Mark
Trapezoidal buckles [Studying finds from the medieval waterfront] London Archaeologist Vol:7 Issue5 (1993). Lindsay, Heather (Site codes: VRY89; TL74; BC72; BWB83; SWA81; TEX88, journal article section).
Studying finds from the medieval waterfront London Archaeologist Vol:7 Issue5 (1993). Lindsay, Heather; Webber, Penelope (Site codes: VRY89; TL74; BC72; BWB83; SWA81; TEX88, journal article).
Ships of the Port of London: twelfth to seventeenth centuries AD
English Heritage archaeological report 5 (1996). Marsden, Peter R.V.; Caldwell, Caroline [drawings] ( , archive report). Published by London: English Heritage
Excavations on the Thames Waterfront at Trig Lane, 1974-1976 Medieval Archaeology Vol:22 (1978). Milne, Gustav; Milne, Chrissie
Medieval Buildings at Trig Lane London Archaeologist Vol:4 Issue2 (1981-03). Milne, Gustav; Milne, Chrissie
Metal Buttons c. 900 BC - c. AD 1700 (2005). Read, Brian (Site code: BIG82; BWB83; SWA81; TL74, book). Published by Portcullis Publishing
A Pair of Late Medieval Spectacles from the Trig Lane London Archaeologist Vol:4 Issue1 (1980-12). Rhodes, Michael
Pilgrim Souvenirs from the Medieval Waterfront Excavations at Trig Lane Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society Vol:33 (1982). Spencer, Brian W.

Total Registered Find records in database

3802

Total Bulk Find records in database

2920

Deposited Archive Contents:

Site, Post-ex
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