National Grid Ref.

TQ3251081360 

Organisation

DUA 

Type of fieldwork

not defined 

Archaeological periods

Roman, Saxon/Medieval, Medieval, 19th century 

Summary

Between June 1987 and May 1988 an excavation sponsored by the Corporation of London took place on the site of the Guildhall Art Gallery, which was being demolished as part of a major redevelopment along the E side of Guildhall Yard. An area about 30m x 30m was available in this first phase, but not all of this could be excavated because of the presence of large masonry foundations crossing the site and dividing it up into seven discrete areas of excavation.Through most of the site, natural gravel and brickearth were truncated by the construction of a very large Roman masonry building (c ad125) which has been identified as an amphitheatre (Fig 49). Substantial lengths of the inner perimeter wall, and the walls forming the ceremonial entrance at the E end of the arena with two flanking chambers, were recorded in the separate areas. Sequences up to 1m thick of internal and external surfaces were also recorded. A number of substantial timber features were associated with the amphitheatre, including several revetted drains with plank tops; two related settling tanks; at least two phases of very large sill-beams marking a porch-like structure in front of the ceremonial entrance; a number of threshold beams in the main entrance and subsidiary doorways; and a row of timber posts in front of the main perimeter wall. The row of posts and some of the lowest surfaces may belong to a phase of activity preceding the amphitheatre, possibly a timber amphitheatre, of the late 1st c.The amphitheatre was evidently still in use (though not necessarily as an amphitheatre) in the mid-4th c, but was then robbed and the site was apparently abandoned. The whole site was sealed by up to 1.5m of dark earth, which was itself sealed by early medieval rubbish pits of very different sizes and orientations. A group of interconnecting medieval gullies and trenches in the S of the site may have been industrial. In the N of the site the substantial remains of the 15th-c Guildhall Chapel were recorded: these comprised foundations of the S aisle and of all four walls of the nave, up to 3m high.A number of substantial but isolated chalk foundations which may have been part of other buildings connected with the 15th-c Guildhall were also recorded. All contemporary ground levels, internal and external, had been truncated by the insertion of the 19th-c basement of the former Art Gallery. From this multi-period site medieval finds were the most noteworthy: 20 medieval buckles and a buckle plate, four copper scales, a pendant and a whole pair of tweezers; a bone weaving comb fashioned from a cattle metapodial; two counters and two dice. Ninety-six coins were retrieved, some of which were Roman. A most unusual object was a tortoiseshell weaving tablet; these are usually made from bone. For excavations immediately to the W, beneath Guildhall Yard, see GUY88 below. Guildhall Yard East (GYE92) was undertaken by MoLAS in 1992-7, but is not reported in detail here. Excavations revealed more of the Roman amphitheatre and its surroundings, including metalled areas and timber buildings. Dark earth over the central arena was sealed by well-preserved 11th-c wattle and timber buildings. Substantial masonry foundations of several medieval buildings were also recorded.

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).

London's Roman amphitheatre: Guildhall Yard, City of London MoLAS Monograph 35 (2008). Bateman, N; Cowan, C and Wroe-Brown, R (Site code: GYE92; GAG87; GDH85; GUD99; GM3; GM4; GM13; GM77; GM145; GM216, book). Published by Museum of London Archaeology Service
Gladiators at the Guildhall (2000). Bateman, Nick (Site Code: GAG87; GUY88; GYE92, book). Published by Museum of London Archaeology Service
The London Guildhall: An archaeological history of a neighbourhood from early medieval to modern times MoLAS Monograph 36 Vol:1Bowsher, D; Dyson, T; Holder, N; Howell, I (Site code: GDH85, GAG87, GYE92, GUD99, book). Published by Museum of London Archaeology Service
Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1989 Medieval Archaeology Vol:XXXIV (1990). Gaimster, David [compiler]; Margeson, Sue [compiler]; Hurley, M. [compiler] (Site code: SHG89; SGA89; ASQ87; AST87; BAS88; LDL88; BIP88; OPS88; BUC87; UTA87; IHA89; FRI88; LOW88; CRT89; TWR89; GAM88; GAG87; HSD89; TCP89; LHY88; MCT88; MOH88; QUE88; GRL88; DMT88; ORM88; BUN88; SEA88; TEX88; VHA89; VRY89;WAP88; WIV88; EDG89; GBS88; , journal article).

Total Registered Find records in database

1432

Total Bulk Find records in database

2283

Deposited Archive Contents:

Project planning, Site, Post-ex, Research
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