Copyright: Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service, Historic England

Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service, Historic England

041202/01/00



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Queen Victoria Street, (No 135), EC4 {Medieval dock/river defences}


Description:  Medieval revetments and a dock were found during an excavation at Queen Victoria Street by P Marsden for the Guildhall Museum in 1972 on the area immediately west of the later Baynard's castle. Excavations revealed that reclamation probably began in 13th century when the river bed was deepened in front of a wooden revetment. The revetment contained timbers which examination proved to have been reused. A timber-lined dock may have existed at this stage, replaced in the 14th century by a stone-lined dock basin. An area to the west was reclaimed to form an open dockside service area. Part of a medieval stone building, originally with an arcaded open front, opened onto the service area. The north wall of the dock was formed by using an earlier timber structure and the east wall was a pre-existing stone wall. The west wall was formed by reclaiming an area of foreshore within a stone wall. A dump layer was found behind this wall, from which jettons dating to the 1330s or later were recovered. Other finds include a pewter ampulla of late 13th century date and two lead tokens of Rigold type D2-4. The dock was backfilled in the 14th century and many finds were recovered from the dumped material, including: pottery, knives, textiles, shears and scabbards. Evidence of the working of amber, probably into beads, was also found. (1-5) Wyngaerde's panorama, c.1550, shows the area piled with timber. Dating evidence suggests dock was filled in by 16th century. (6)

Excavation archive source: EXCAVATION RECORDS [MOL], BC 72. MOLDUA Marsden, P

Country:  England

County:  GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY

District:  CITY OF LONDON

Parish:  CITY OF LONDON

Grid Reference:   TQ319808

Map Reference:  [EPSG:27700] 531930, 180830

Period/Subject:  1201 - 1300 - REVETMENT, 1201 - 1539 - LAND RECLAMATION, 1201 - 1600 - DOCK, 1301 - 1539 - BUILDING, 1330 - 1339 - JETTON, 1275 - 1300 - AMPULLA, 1066 - 1400 - TOKEN, 1066 - 1400 - POTTERY, 1066 - 1400 - BEAD, 1066 - 1400 - SHEARS, 1066 - 1400 - KNIFE, 1066 - 1400 - SCABBARD

Identifiers: 
[ADS] Depositor Id: 041202/01/00
[ADS] Associated Id: Site Code: BC72
[ADS] Associated Id: Historic Environment Record: 041202/01/00
[ADS] Associated Id: Site Code: GM152
[ADS] Associated Id: <a href="http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archsearch/record.jsf?collectionId=272&depositorId=ELO11695">ELO11695</a>
[ADS] Import RCN: GLHER1511-041202/01/00

People Involved: 
[Publisher] Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service, Historic England

Bibliographic References: 

  • HARDING C & Marsden, P. "POST ROMAN GAZETTEER", 312
  • WEBSTER LE & CHERRY J. "MEDIEVAL BRITAIN IN 1973", P 196, MED ARCH VOL 18
  • WEBSTER LE & CHERRY J. "MEDIEVAL BRITAIN IN 1972", PP 162-4, MED ARCH VOL 17
  • Marsden, P. "News: British Isles", P 192