National Grid Ref.

TQ32288042, TQ32278040 

Organisation

DGLA (S&L) 

Type of fieldwork

excavation 

Archaeological periods

Bronze Age, Medieval, Post-Medieval/16th century/17th century 

Summary

Excavation in 1988 uncovered remains of the Rose theatre (c 1587-1605), in which two construction phases were identified. The first (c 1587-92) consisted of a polygonal building with perhaps 12 or 14 sides, its inner and outer walls some 3.5m apart; an inner yard, with a partly raked mortar floor, some 13m in diameter; and a stage about 5-6m wide. In the second phase the theatre was extended to the N, the yard area increased and the stage moved back some 3m; the yard was refloored with a layer of clinker and crushed hazelnuts. The superstructure was of timber with a lath and plaster infill, and rested on brick sleeper walls set in turn on chalk foundation pads. A humic layer represented thatching from the roof, and wooden shingles may have been part of the stage roof. (Some of the site records are held by EH.)

Source: Thompson, Alan, Westman, Andrew and Dyson, Tony (eds.) (1998). Archaeology in Greater London 1965 - 1990: a guide to records of excavations by the Museum of London. The Archaeological Gazetteer Series, Volume 2. London: Museum of London. ISBN 0-904818-80-2. 

Related sites:

None linked 

No. of Related publications:

4 publication(s).

The Rose and the Globe - playhouses of Shakespeare's Bankside, Southwark. Excavations 1988-90 MoL Monograph 48Bowsher Julian; Miller Pat
The Rose: Bankside's first theatre Gurr, Elizabeth (Site code: SBH88, booklet). Published by The Rose Theatre Trust
A Romano-British cemetery on Watling Street: excavations at 165 Great Dover Street, Southwark, London
MoLAS Archaeology Studies Series 4 (2000). Mackinder, Anthony (Site code: GDV96, book). Published by London: Museum of London Archaeology Service
The prehistory and topography of Southwark and Lambeth DUP
MoLAS Monograph 14 (2002). Sidell, Jane; Cotton, Jonathan; Rayner, Louise; Wheeler, Lucy (Site codes: 207BHS72; 106BHS73; LAM12973; MBW73; 1STS74; 201BHS75; CSSS75; SLC76; WW78; L107/79; 38SBR79; 15SKS80; GHR82; 4STS82; FW83; BA84; COSE84; CSW85; FW84; L525/85; L582/86; BLA87; CO87; WG87; CO88; NOR88; PHW88; QESS88; SBH88; SIP88; STS88; WBR88;, book). Published by London: Museum of London Archaeology Service

Total Registered Find records in database

0

Total Bulk Find records in database

0

Deposited Archive Contents:

Site, Post-ex
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