Series: Museum of London Archaeology unpublished report series

A geoarchaeological watching brief was carried out which involved the monitoring of two trial pits in the areas of interest as well as the excavation of a ditch for the installation of a water pipe. The results of the watching brief are consistent with the data presented by previous borehole investigations across the site. A sequence of made ground overlying Holocene alluvium and Pleistocene terrace was observed, although no evidence of the previously suggested palaeochannels was discovered. The sediments were judged to be of low geoarchaeological potential, and sampling or close analysis was prevented by heavy hydrocarbon contamination. Furthermore, the raising of the ground level of site with a demolition layer of approximately one metre thickness has limited the impact that the development will have on the alluvial sequence.

Nine non intrusive field surveys of features in the intertidal zone, recording with sub cm accuracy survey equipment; wood sampling and analysis, a geoarchaeological desk-based assessment and an impact evaluation report. All surveys carried out with volunteers, who also helped set the research questions and write sections of the main site report. With a first visit to the site in 2018, then 9 fieldwork sessions over 2019-2022 CITiZAN and volunteers have recorded the remains of over 1100 small roundwood stakes studding 3.3km of foreshore at Sandwich. These form the remains of at least 42 keddle nets, a type of stake net, which in turn is a type of static fish trap. The remains were a previously unrecognised archaeological resource, and seemingly forgotten historically. Documentary research, oral history and radiocarbon dating suggest they may date from at least the mid-late 18th century into the early 20th century however and were small scale familial concerns. In the 19th century they supplied fish for processing into sauces by the same families, as well as fish for direct sale. Radiocarbon dating of three of the stakes supports the post-medieval date. We also recorded the remains of Second World War anti landing poles at the Site. Our associated survey at Pegwell Bay on the opposite side of the mouth of the river Stour found no remains of fish traps (or anti landing poles) here despite documentary evidence that these existed. Historic England funded sampling and analysis of 90 stakes revealed a surprisingly wide range of species. An intriguing distribution pattern may point to temporal changes in woodland or individual relationships between fishers and woodlanders. In all the results demonstrated the potential for wood analyses of seemingly modest and relatively recent historical structures. The geoarchaeological desk-based assessment, also funded by Historic England, identified recent changes in coastal morphology at Sandwich Bay including the pattern of erosion and accretion affecting the remains. It highlights the importance of understanding of local coastal processes for intertidal archaeological sites. This assessment, our observations over the last three years, and the data we collected during surveys suggest that the keddle net stakes at Sandwich Bay are at high risk of loss from erosion and tidal scour. These same effects, however, also have the potential to reveal more keddle net remains. Our work has created a baseline record for the Site and a dataset that can be used to monitor erosion in the future. Framing all of this is a focus on collaboration, co-creation and discovery: 24 volunteers have contributed to this project including helping define research questions, writing sections of the report and delivering peer to peer training in survey and sampling techniques. The ethnographic evaluation identified ‘being out in nature’ as a strong reason for volunteering; its fine grained observations also highlighted the ethnographic approach as an effective way forward for evaluation of community archaeology projects. This work would not have been possible without the involvement of the local community and volunteers, either in scale or in the insights for the site that our conversations brought. This project therefore also highlights the importance of actively involving volunteers and local communities in recording, monitoring, analysis and caring for heritage. Data from the project (photographs, survey data, wood analysis data) will be made available via the ADS.

Two geotechnical boreholes were monitored: one at basement level in the north podium; the other at basement level in the south podium. Four evaluation trial pits (TPs 1-4) were excavated at basement level in the south podium. The evaluation identified in situ natural deposits at all locations. Although not clearly defined, the surface of London Clay was recorded in the North borehole at a point between 4.17m-4.77m OD. In the South borehole it was recorded at 3.57m OD, reflecting the downward slope towards the river. River terrace gravels varied in height from 6.1m OD in TP2 to 7.37m OD in the North borehole. The surface of the gravels had clearly been horizontally truncated in TPs 2 and 3 and possibly to a lesser extent in TPs 1 and 4. Gravel recorded at 7.17m OD in the South borehole is probably the best indication for the surface of river terrace gravels in this area of site, again reflecting a downward slope towards the river. No archaeological features or deposits were identified, having been removed either prior to, or during construction of the existing buildings in 1975. However, a peat layer with surface height at 6.77m OD and an underlying alluvial deposit, surface height at 6.17m OD, were recorded in the North borehole (combined thickness c 2m). They were likely associated with the Walbrook Stream or one of its tributaries and may represent limited potential for recovery of artefactual evidence, relating to archaeological activity from the prehistoric period and onwards.

Six trenches were investigated. A late 17th century brick wall is probably that seen alongside Glasshouse Square on the Rocque map c 1746 . Apart from several animal bones, including a dog skull, there was no evidence of the final bear baiting arena, the Davies Bear Gardens (c 1660/1682-1682), that has recently been identified on the Union Works site (PSE02) on Bear Gardens. Several late 17th century dumps contained waste glass and delft pottery fragments related to the local Bear Gardens industries. Several brick footings are probably related to the current building and are late 19th or early 20th century in date.

A Historic England Level 2 standing building survey was carried out at 1 Finsbury Avenue, a Grade II listed building designed by Arup Associates and constructed in 1984. The building is listed due to its award winning architectural design. The building was innovative for a number of reasons, such as the architects sympathetic approach, with the upper 5th and 6th floors stepped back, with the 7th stepped back further still. This reduced the impact of the building in terms of its size, emphasising a more 'human' feel, making the building less imposing from street level. Equally with the use of landscaped terraces on the 5th and 6th floors, the building was made to feel more 'natural' to the occupants of these floors. It was constructed using a steel frame that was bolted together and utilised precast concrete floors, eschewing the common practice of using poured concrete, thus greatly shortening construction time to just over a year. The building utilised an efficient heating system which coursed hot water around the perimeter of the building through the window frames and the external cladding of the staircase towers and was an early example of a building controlled by BMS. Solar gain was controlled by the use of brises soleil on the east and west elevation as well as the recessed portion of the south elevation. It has anodised aluminium cladding, designed by Josef Gartner. The interior was planned around a central atrium; however this was altered in 1997 to provide a continuous third floor.

A watching brief on geotechnical test pits, underpinning pits and other exploratory pits revealed only natural sandy gravels overlain by modern fills and the foundations of the present 1960s building. The watching brief was carried out in two phases; November 2008 and March 2010

Three evaluation trenches were excavated and two borehole samples collected on the site. Alluvial deposits, almost certainly associated with the Tyburn/Tachbrook/Kingschoole Sluice system were investigated and sampled. The existing building on the site had removed any layers or features associated with human activity that may once have existed on the site. There was therefore no evidence for the post-medieval development of the area. The results of the post excavation assessment showed that the site shares stratigraphic and environmental similarities with other sites across the Westminster and Pimlico area. A total of three facies were identified from Pleistocene (arctic climate) gravels through to Late Neolithc and later alluvial silt and, finally, modern made ground. Modelling of the early Holocene or Mesolithic topography indicates the site initially occupied an almost central position near where the Tyburn entered the floodplain at the end of the Pleistocene. The pollen suggested a riparian environment adjacent to the Tyburn which silted up over time from the late Neolithic onward. Although no direct evidence was found on the site of human occupation, indirect evidence of human activity was recorded in the form of cereal pollen following the opening up of the environment particularly throughout the historic period. The site was shown to have been quite severely truncated by modern disturbances. The borehole logs show that an approximately 1.5m to 2m thickness of alluvial deposits survive on site in areas that have not been disturbed. The presence and nature of these deposits were confirmed in two of the evaluation trenches (2 and 3 towards the east side of the site) whilst trench 1 near the centre of the site showed intense modern disturbance in this area. The alluviums are thought to relate to the Tyburn/Tachbrook/Kingschoole Sluice river system, conjectured to have flowed across the site area. No layers or features relating to human activity on the site were identified in the evaluation.

MOLA were commissioned to carry out a Level 1 standing building survey of 1 Penfold Place, London NW1 6RJ, on a two storey brick building, a workshop, retail unit and three further storage units to the rear. The main mid-19th century building is of a lightweight industrial type with a large loading door on ground floor level and a smaller loading door above at 1st floor level. The remainder of the site is a mid 20th-century addition.

Two evaluation test-pits, (TP10 and TP11) were proposed, located on the northern (lower ground floor) part of the site. Test pit 10 revealed London Clay 2.75 metres below slab level at -1.21m OD, below a one metre thick layer of disturbed ground, the top of which was recorded at -0.22m OD. This was overlain by the basement slab, 1.76m thick, the top of which was recorded at 1.54m OD. Testpit 11 revealed a layer of concrete at -0.39m OD beneath disturbed ground 1.18m thick, the top of which was recorded at 0.79. The basement slab above was 0.75m, the top of which also recorded at 1.54m OD. The report concluded that no archaeological deposits were found to survive in the northwest and northeast parts of the site.

The archaeological evaluation was undertaken within seven evaluation trenches, of which, five measured 15m by 2m and two measured 2.50m by 1.10m. The results of the evaluation revealed the natural sand and gravel overlying clay. Much of the natural had been truncated by previous land-use. Within trenches 3, 6 and 7, located towards the western part of the site, a Roman ditch was uncovered. This was aligned north-east/south-west, following the line of the route of Stane Street. Recovered from the fill were a number of pottery sherds from a single 4th century Roman flagon. To the west of the ditch, within trench 3, successive layers of gravel and silt were noted, which may represent the truncated surface of the Roman Road lying a little further to the west. Within the north-western part of the site was the possible location of the River Graveney. This is denoted by a shallow drop in the natural clay by some 700mm, the depression infilled with a slightly organic brown silt. This silt contained a sherd of Roman amphora, but also 19th-20th century brick. To the east was a course yellow sand containing very small shells which may represent alluvial flood deposit associated with the river.