Compass Archaeology unpublished report series

Monitoring took place during construction of a children's play area in Tower Gardens, close to a standing section of the City Wall (SAM LO14). The site overlies the line of the external ditch, which was infilled in the earlier 17th century and subsequently developed. Following wartime bomb damage the site was cleared and the present Gardens laid out. Groundworks included five foundation pits 700-800mm deep, plus surface stripping for paths. These revealed a shallow layer of imported topsoil, overlying made ground and building rubble that was probably derived from post-war demolition. Four pits revealed a concrete surface of late 19th century+ date, which construction and map evidence suggest to be parts of an external yard. No earlier deposits or features were exposed, and there were no significant archaeological finds.

Compass Archaeology undertook an evaluation of land to the east of Beddington Farm Road and south of Stirling Way, Croydon, London Borough of Sutton in August 2003. This area has potential for a range of archaeological features and finds, notably those of prehistoric date. Roman remains are also recorded in the locality, although subsequently the area appears to have remained open. Seven trial trenches were investigated, each measuring c. 2m by 12m in plan. The trenches were concentrated within the eastern and northern parts of the site, within areas of proposed development and ground reduction. There were no major archaeological features or finds. The sequence of deposits was broadly similar across the site, with recent made ground overlying a later post medieval reworked soil and a more or less sterile subsoil. natural River Terrace deposits were encountered at a depth of about 0.6m to 0.9m, although in the southeast corner the underlying London Clay outcropped to within 0.3m of the present surface. The evaluation did produce some evidence for prehistoric activity, broadly comparable with other local sites. Two apparently linear features were recorded within the southeast of the site, over 2m wide and with a primary waterlain fill. These features and adjacent soil horizons produced a total of ten struck flints, lacking diagnostic tool types, but likely to be of Mesolithic to Bronze Age date.

The 19th and early 20th century fabric of Grove Mill was recorded prior to its refurbishment. A record was made of an adjacent waterwheel housing and two small 19th century buildings prior to demolition. Three evaluation trenches produced evidence for 19th century activity, but there were no significant finds or remains. Below this level were sterile alluvial deposits to natural terrace gravels. A watching brief during groundworks within Grove Mill revealed brick structures relating to the 18th century mill, including a waterwheel housing. There was also some evidence for earlier activity, including chalk and timber structures and underlying waterlain deposits.

The site had known potential for prehistoric and Roman finds. A Compass Archaeology evaluation trench (c.25m by 3m) revealed significant evidence for prehistoric activity on the site. The northern part of the trench contained this evidence in the form of cut features and overlying deposits, both containing burnt flint and other indications of human activity. These remains were sealed by layers of sterile alluvium that extended through to the post medieval period. Extended excavation (c. 13m by 1.5m) in this area revealed several large pits and many other smaller features such as stake and postholes, plus substantial quantities of burnt/fire cracked flint, fired clay and charcoal and occasional struck flints and pottery. Several of the pits exhibited evidence of in-situ burning, and some of the stake/postholes may have supported structures. The backfill within the pits was largely composed of redeposited and partly burnt material, indicating activity over some time. These remains appear to be associated with a ''burnt mound'' - a series of pits and deposits (particularly burnt flint) associated with deliberate heating of water for cooking or possibly ritual purposes. A radiocarbon date of 3360 +/- 40 BP supports the suggested mid to later Bronze Age date (c. 1600 to 800 BC). Burnt mounds are often found close to a watercourse and the overlying alluvial deposits, and the extant ditch or small stream to the north east of this site, clearly indicates the presence of such a watercourse on or near to this site.

Prior to demolition a record was made of the Engine Room of the Greenwich Steam Ferry (c. 1888-1900). This was basically a large (20m by 9m) cellar, the boilers and engines were now lost but the room retained considerable evidence for their arrangement. The adjacent river wall with its cable ports and concrete foreshore ramp were also surveyed. Elsewhere bulk reduction revealed a probable 17th century channel running parallel with, and some 17m south of, the modern riverbank. This was traced for 33m and was originally up to 5m wide, but in the first half of the 18th century underwent at least two phases of timber revetting and a final reduction in width to c. 1m. The fills produced a large range of domestic and imported pottery and other artefacts. The channel was cut into a thick (c.2m) layer of clean alluvium, which covered the site. This deposit sealed River Terrace (Kempton Park) gravels.

Two trial trenches were dug by hand in the north-western part of the proposed development footprint and subsequently three trenches excavated by machine to the east of the present building. The southern hand-dug trench revealed a substantial brick foundation, running north-south with a return or junction to the west near the northern limit excavation. Dating of the brick and of pottery from the underlying soil indicated that this may well have formed part of a the Elizabethan house, although a later (early to mid 17th century) date was also possible. No other structural remains were found. The second hand-dug trench exposed a soil profile dating from the mid 16th to 19th centuries, overlain by modern imported topsoil. The machine-dug trenches produced very few dateable finds, although in two areas the buried soil profile was similar to that described above. [Au(abr)]

An evaluation by Geoff Potter of Compass Archaeology comprising three trial trenches (30 square metres). Two pits were found which produced evidence for 18th century occupation. This probably relates to residential properties on the High Street, although there was no indication of commercial activity. The pottery was mainly common domestic wares but did include one notable item in the form of a large slipware dish made at Isleworth or Hounslow. Elsewhere 19th and 20th activity had removed almost all deposits and truncated the natural Terrace sands and gravels.

An archaeological Watching Brief was undertaken by M J Miles of Compass Archaeology. A proposed rear extension to the public house, measuring c. 7m by 8.3m in plan, required up to 1.4m of ground reduction. The site lies just outside the recorded line of Fulham Palace Moat, but within the scheduled ancient monument area, and a nearby archaeological investigation has revealed organic silt deposits (possibly related to the moat), measuring over 2m in depth, with a C14 date near the base of AD570+/-80. The watching brief revealed an undated alluvial sequence overlain by 19th century madeground. The alluvium was not bottomed but demonstrates that the moat once extended across this site: environmental evidence suggests that it was deposited by periodic flooding in an area already partly silted up. The overlying madeground represents land reclamation, dated to circa 1810 to 1825 and sealed by garden soil. Please note the levels shown below represent the limits of excavation and not the height of natural, which was not encountered.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Geoff Potter of Compass Archaeology. One trench was opened in the footprint of a proposed Children''s Centre. No archaeological remains were found: the sequence comprised recent made ground overlying sterile alluvium and below this natural River Terrace gravel. Two features were noted, one of probable natural origin and the other of 19th century date.

Archaeological evaluation by Geoff Potter for Compass Archaeology involved the investigation of six trenches. The site lies on the projected line of a Roman road, joining with the London to Colchester road to the south. Some historic maps also show a boundary crossing the site on the projected road line. No significant archaeological remains were found and there was much evidence for recent truncation and landscaping. Natural River Terrace deposits were exposed in each trench, in some areas overlain by probable disturbed natural or hillwash. Several cut features of 19th and 20th century date were recorded, most notably two sections of a ditch - that can be related to the historic boundary already noted above. These features and adjacent deposits were overlain by recent made ground and an imported top soil layer.