London Archaeologist 7 (3)

Reports a fifteenth-century building with substantial foundations associated with an ashlar river wall and revetted inlet from the Thames, which documentary evidence suggests was a predecessor of the seventeenth-century to mid-nineteenth-century brick built brewery. Intense activity was also located associated with a substantial moat and wall which has been suggested as `the Rosary' of Edward II. On the north-east corner of the excavation a river inlet and tidal mill were located, again substantiated with documentary evidence. The timbers allowed interpretation of the structural sequence, and dating from pottery spot dates combined with dendrochronological dates has generalised that activity started in the second half of the sixteenth century. Waterlogged conditions facilitated substantial preservation of finds including wooden objects, leatherwork, textiles and militaria. These combined with extensive finds material, including pottery, glass and the first codpiece discovered in London, may form the basis of a catalogue of sixteenth-century London artefacts.

Recent programme of stone cleaning and repointing on the external face of the south wall revealed part of the late fifteenth-century to sixteenth-century church. A study of the external face of the south wall revealed structures, source of materials and phases of reconstruction. This pattern of reconstruction is used to explain how the adjacent area outside the church developed. The authors postulate that reuse of materials will, with further investigation, be apparent in many more of the capital's churches.

A two day evaluation of a 5m x 8m trench. The results favour the SMR location of the junction of Watling Street and the London to Lewes road. Stone foundations and a flint and clay layer were uncovered; however, possible association and interpretation are limited due to the restrictions of the evaluation. Suggests area is of archaeological and historical importance.