National Grid Ref.

TQ32868037 

Organisation

DGLA (S&L) 

Type of fieldwork

excavation 

Archaeological periods

Bronze Age/Iron Age, Roman, Medieval, Post-Medieval, 18th century 

Summary

Excavation in 1984 revealed a ring ditch enclosing a shallow central pit which contained sherds provisionally dated to the Late Bronze or Early Iron Age. The ditch contained a cremation and, though not securely dated, is thought to have been a barrow. The entire site was truncated below any Roman land surface, only pits of that date surviving. One of these pits was rectangular with a timber lining, and another contained a group of 1st-c pottery. The massive landward abutment of medieval London Bridge, surviving largely intact up to the base of the arch vaulting, was located behind the modern riverwall. The original 12th-c bastion was built against and into the bank, and the core of ragstone and chalk rubble was contained within a good-quality ashlar facing; this rested upon substantial oak sills and was protected externally by rows of elm piles. Later phases of repair and widening were in evidence. Beneath the stone bridge was a substantial oak box structure with an adjacent foreshore causeway; both perhaps part of a previous timber bridge. A number of brick features were recorded, principally 17th- or 18th-c cellars of buildings fronting the bridge approach ramp.

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).

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
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
Saxo-Norman Southwark: a review of the archaeological and historical evidence Vol:12 Issue6 (2009). Watson, Bruce (HIB79, FW84, TW84, 2SSBS85, 207BHS72, 106BHS73, WP83, 15SKS80, 1STS74, BAB95, SGY05, MTA99, HHO97, journal article). Published by London Archaeologist
London Bridge: 2000 years of a river crossing MoLAS Monograph 8 (2001). Watson, Bruce; Brigham, Trevor; Dyson, Tony (Site codes: TW70, TW84, FW83, FW84, book). Published by London: Museum of London Archaeology Service

Total Registered Find records in database

195

Total Bulk Find records in database

0

Deposited Archive Contents:

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