Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................... 4
ORGANISATION OF THIS REPORT ............................................................................................................. 4
TDP STAFF TEAM: .............................................................................................................................. 4
Abbreviations used in this report .............................................................................................. 5
AIMS OF THE PROJECT ......................................................................................................................... 6
ACTIVITIES: FIELDWORK, EVENTS, DISSEMINATION AND RESOURCES DEVELOPED ............................. 7
1ST QUARTER: 13/09/08 25/11/08 .................................................................................................... 7
2ND QUARTER: 26/11/08 05/03/09 ................................................................................................. 10
3RD QUARTER: 05/03/09 02/07/09 ................................................................................................. 13
4TH QUARTER: 03/07/09 16/09/09 ................................................................................................. 17
5TH QUARTER: 16/09/09 27/01/10 ................................................................................................. 20
6TH QUARTER: 28/01/10 24/03/10 ................................................................................................. 23
TH
7 QUARTER: 25/03/10 24/06/10 ................................................................................................. 27
8TH QUARTER: 25/06/10 06/10/10 ................................................................................................. 31
9TH QUARTER: 07/10/10 19/01/11 ................................................................................................. 35
10TH QUARTER: 20/01/11 30/03/11................................................................................................ 38
11TH QUARTER: 31/03/11 13/07/11................................................................................................ 41
12TH QUARTER: 14/07/11 30/09/11................................................................................................ 46
SUMMARY DATA................................................................................................................................ 49
HLF TARGETS................................................................................................................................... 49
Events .................................................................................................................................... 49
The Foreshore Recording and Observation Group ................................................................... 51
Website .................................................................................................................................. 53
Schools ................................................................................................................................... 54
Exhibitions .............................................................................................................................. 55
Sustainability .......................................................................................................................... 55
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE SUMMARIES: ...................................................................................................... 58
TDP Key Sites: ......................................................................................................................... 58
Other sites visited: .................................................................................................................. 65
PROJECT BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................... 70
APPENDIX 1: ....................................................................................................................................... 72
TABLE OF FIGURES
Front cover: the Thames at Isleworth
Figure 1: Wharf structure at Billingsgate , October 2008 ....................................................................... 7
Figure 2: Nautical timbers at Charlton, November 2008 ........................................................................ 8
Figure 3: Thames Discovery Programme stall at the Thames Festival, September 2008 ........................ 9
Figure 4: Deptford Creek walk, with the Creekside Centre, March 2009 .............................................. 10
Figure 5: FROG Training at Custom House, February 2009 .................................................................. 11
Figure 6: FROG training at Isleworth, April 2009 ................................................................................. 14
Figure 7: Treasure and the Thames seminar, April 2009 ...................................................................... 15
Figure 8: At Trig Lane, June 2009 ........................................................................................................ 15
Figure 9: Sampling at Fulham, August 2009 ........................................................................................ 18
Figure 10: Tower Beach Open Weekend, July 2009 (photo by Dan Swift)............................................. 19
Figure 11: FROG Fieldwork at Bermondsey, September 2009 .............................................................. 20
Figure 12: Survey at Vauxhall, October 2009 ....................................................................................... 21
Figure 13: MoLA Geomatics surveying at Greenwich, February 2010 .................................................. 23
Figure 14: Guided walk for Birkbeck students and FROG Training at Trig Lane, March 2010 ............... 24
Figure 15: Childrens activities at the Remarkable Rivers event, UCL, February 2010 ........................... 25
Figure 16: Defining the WW2 river wall breach at Fulham, March 2010. ............................................. 27
Figure 17: Final day of Summer Season fieldwork at Rotherhithe, September 2010............................. 31
Figure 18: Visit to the Theatre site, July 2010 ...................................................................................... 33
Figure 19: Human Remains Riverpedia Workshop, November 2010 .................................................... 36
Figure 20: Guided walk at Richmond, November 2010 ........................................................................ 36
Figure 21: TDP Outreach Officer Mike Webber at the TEP Forum, October 2010 ................................. 37
Figure 22: FROG member Andy Becker with lithic find at Vauxhall, February 2011 .............................. 38
Figure 23: FROG Training at Putney, March 2011................................................................................ 39
Figure 24: Tower of London event, April 2011 ..................................................................................... 42
Figure 25: FROG Team photo with Tony Robinson at Burrells Wharf, July 2011 .................................. 42
Figure 26: Lecture at Southwark Cathedral, July 2011 (Photo by Anies Hassan) .................................. 43
Figure 27: TDP exhibition at the Museum of London, July 2011 ........................................................... 44
Figure 28: Erosion on the foreshore at the Tower Beach, July 2011 ..................................................... 46
Figure 29: Visit to Billingsgate Bath House, July 2011.......................................................................... 47
Figure 30: Childrens activities at the Museum of London, August 2011 .............................................. 48
Figure 31: Monitoring trip to Vauxhall, August 2011 ........................................................................... 49
Figure 32: Screen shot of FROG blog page, September 2011 ............................................................... 53
Figure 33: Map of sites, September 2011 ............................................................................................ 57
Introduction
This report has been produced as the final report for the Heritage Lottery Fund with
regard to activities undertaken by the Thames Discovery Programme staff team.
Information about archaeology recorded within the intertidal zone across fifteen
riparian boroughs in Greater London is also included.
Twelve Quarterly Reports have previously been produced and submitted to the
Thames Discovery Programme Steering Group (Quarterly Report 12 is incorporated
within this present document) and an Interim Report (Cohen 2010) was produced in
June 2010. A separate report on the Riverpedia Project (created with the support of
a grant from the UCL Public Engagement Unit) was produced in August 2011. This
report has been written by Nathalie Cohen (TDP Team Leader), with contributions
from Eliott Wragg (TDP Field Officer) and Gustav Milne (TDP Director). All
photographs were taken by N. Cohen with the exception of Figures 10 and 26 (which
are reproduced with the kind permission of Dan Swift and Anies Hassan
respectively). Figure 33 was created by Catherine Drew (MoLA Geomatics). The
report has been reviewed by the TDP staff team and the TDP Steering Group.
Assessing the current record for each site and piloting recording and survey
methods in Year 1 to ensure a high and consistent standard of information is
collected. A monitoring pack will be produced for each site and community FROG
members trained to undertake regular, systematic monitoring of those sites to
highlight any changes or damage.
Work on the pilot site will inform if any changes will be made and the other 19
sites will be set up as soon as is practicable, using the same model.
A travelling exhibition visiting between 3-5 locations each year, showing how the
project works, some of its findings as they develop and how to find out more.
The locations include: MoL, Docklands Museum and UCL Archaeology
Department, Thames Explorer Trust, Creekside Education Centre, Greenwich
Maritime Museum and Thames Estuary Partnership Annual Forum.
Purpose
Survey with MoLA Geomatics (commercial work) /
team familiarisation
Team familiarisation
Team familiarisation
Team familiarisation
Team familiarisation
Team familiarisation
The initial site work at Bermondsey was undertaken outside of the Team Leaders
employment with TEP / TDP (prior to contracted start date) but the TDP Team
Director also attended the site. [The three letter/ two numeral code associated with
each site name is the zone code assigned by the Thames Archaeological Survey as
the unique identifier for that particular site within the Greater London area].
Subsequent visits were designed to introduce the new team to a range of foreshore
sites, which were chosen according to the previous field experience of the Team
Leader and Director, and examination of the Thames Archaeological Survey archive
(which contains information about foreshore sites investigated from 1996-9).
Criteria for sites chosen were location (a sample across the Greater London riparian
boroughs); accessibility (with regard to future training and outreach events); to link
with project partners and supporter organisations (in this quarter, the Thames
Explorer Trust at Chiswick and the Environment Agency at Charlton); and the range
of archaeological features represented at each site (see Archaeological Site
Summaries).
Events attended:
Thames Festival (13/14 September), TEP Annual Forum (16/10/08), London
Archaeological Forum (22/10/08), Thames21 Training Day (24/11/08)
Figure 3: Thames Discovery Programme stall at the Thames Festival, September 2008
Dissemination:
Article for Talk of the Thames
Publicity materials: TDP postcards at NAS Conference, Thames Festival, TEP Annual
Forum, and personal contacts.
Resources developed:
TDP website structure developed with LP Archaeology
Flickr account set up and first sets of images uploaded (LJR, NRC)
Articles about Geology (DJ), Erosion & Deposition (LJR) and the TDP Logo (LJR)
uploaded to TDP website.
FGW14 Charlton
FHM04 Crabtree Wharf
FSW01 Bermondsey
FHL10 Brentford Riverside
FRM22 Brentford Ait
FKN01 Chelsea
FCY01 Trig Lane
FSW12 Winchester Wharf
Deptford Creek
Purpose
Team familiarisation / C14 sampling
Team familiarisation
Assessment and survey with MoLA Geomatics
Set up for FROG Training
Filming with Tollan Films
FROG Training
Alpha survey
Survey with MoLA Geomatics (commercial work)
C14 sampling
Team familiarisation
Team familiarisation
Assessment visit with UCL student
Guided tour for City University students
Familiarisation
Familiarisation
During this quarter, a considerable number of site trips were organised; team
attendance at visits was affected by illness. Repeat visits were made to two sites
from the first quarter selected for future FROG Training (Custom House and
Charlton), and the first weekend Day 2 FROG sessions were held at Custom House.
Figure 4: Deptford Creek walk, with the Creekside Centre, March 2009
The programme of site selection during this quarter was again designed to introduce
the team to further examples of known key sites, using the criteria above (location,
accessibility, partner organisations and archaeology). This quarter also saw
university involvement with the development of three Masters dissertation projects
based on TDP fieldwork and data (by Lisa Gray, Eliott Wragg and Lorna Richardson
UCL) and a guided walk for City University evening class students.
A Christmas social event was held at UCL for partners and supporters and a second
introductory lecture about the project was held at LAARC.
Additionally during this quarter, commercial work was undertaken with MoLA,
commissioned by Arups, which discovered a previously unrecorded fish trap in
Hammersmith.
Events attended:
Thames Gateway Forum (26/11/08) (NRC)
Dissemination:
Newspaper articles in Hackney Gazette and Hackney Today
Lectures presented: Bexley Archaeological Group (NRC), MoLA (NRC), Careers Day @
Institute of Archaeology (LJR)
Publicity materials: postcards in LAMAS newsletter, Day 1 FROG Training (in packs),
LAARC reception, Hackney Borough libraries and personal contacts.
Resources developed:
FROG Training Packs which include FROG certificate, health and safety information,
Code of Conduct, project background, evaluation and diversity monitoring forms,
photo consent forms, local libraries list, Dark Waters map, Portable Antiquities
Scheme leaflet, Talk of the Thames magazine and TDP postcards / poster (all)
Key Site information for Custom House in packs and uploaded to website (DJ, NRC).
Volunteers assessed finds collected during the TAS project in preparation for new
Archaeology for All (TET) teaching sets (NRC)
FKN01 Chelsea
FCY04 Custom House
FLM01 Vauxhall
FSW12 Winchester Wharf
Canary Wharf to Burrells
Wharf
FGW14 Charlton
FSW03 Rotherhithe
FCY01 Trig Lane
FGW04 Greenwich Palace
FTH02 Alderman Stairs
Purpose
Assessment visit
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Assessment and survey with MoLA Geomatics
Guided public walk
FROG Training x 2
Filming with Tollan Films
Sampling for student project
Guided public walk
FROG training events x 2
Assessment visit
Assessment visit
Rapid walkover
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Guided public walk
FROG training
Filming with Tollan Films
Assessment visit
Guided walk for City University students
Guided public walk
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Summer Season Week 1
This quarter saw new staff in place following David Jamiesons resignation; the
Survey Officer role was split into two Eliott Wragg as Field Officer and Stuart
Brookes as GIS Officer. As both new team members had previous foreshore
experience, little familiarisation was needed, meaning that 2 further cycles of FROG
training were successfully completed, at Custom House (April and June), Isleworth
(April and June) and Charlton (June) together with the first week of FROG summer
fieldwork at Alderman Stairs, also in June. Additionally, survey with MoLA
Geomatics was undertaken at Putney to support the work of the Wandsworth
Historical Society. Guided public walks took place at Custom House, Isleworth,
Charlton, Trig Lane and Greenwich. Assessment visits were undertaken to Fulham,
Vauxhall (where a newly revealed structure was sampled), Winchester Wharf, the
Isle of Dogs and Rotherhithe to inform planning of future fieldwork and public
events, and to develop partner links (with Fulham Palace, English Heritage and
Bankside STEWards at Fulham, Vauxhall and Winchester Wharf respectively).
Three evening events were also held at LAARC.
Events attended:
IFA Conference (NRC), LAMAS conference (NRC, LJR), Social Media Exchange (LJR),
UCL Public Engagement Symposium (NRC), Maritime Research Framework (NRC,
EW), London Research Strategy (NRC), Missing Out Conference (LJR), EH Focus group
(LJR), UEL Mayfest (LJR)
Dissemination:
Articles for Surrey Newsletter, LAMAS Newsletter, Talk of the Thames, British
Archaeology.
Newspaper/Newsletter: 1st TDP Newsletter produced.
Lectures presented: City of London Archaeological Society, Wandsworth Historical
Society, Association of American Study Abroad Programme, Merton Historical
Society, Raynes Park Library, City University course on Thames (8 x weeks) all NRC.
Teaching and Learning in Archaeology, HEA Conference (LJR), PEU Symposium (GM).
Publicity materials: postcards at IFA Conference, Day 1 FROG Training (in packs),
Mayfest, Wandle Valley Festival, LAARC Reception and personal contacts.
Resources developed:
Key site information for Isleworth and Charlton uploaded to website (NRC, EW)
Discussion with TET re end of project education deliverables (LJR, NRC, Andy
Hawkins)
Purpose
Assessment visit
Festival of British Archaeology public event
Assessment visit
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Radiocarbon sampling
Dendrochronological sampling
Festival of British Archaeology public event (guided
walks)
Festival of British Archaeology YAC visit
Festival of British Archaeology public event (guided
walk)
Summer Season Week 2
Press event
Assessment visit
Assessment and survey with MoLA Geomatics
Summer Season Week 3
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Guided public walk
Commercial work for Giffords DBA
Another very busy quarter characterised by numerous public events, such as those
linked with the Festival of British Archaeology (FoBA); these included a family
foreshore day at Fulham Palace, attendance at the Open Foreshore Weekend at the
Tower of London, YAC guided walk at Custom House, and a guided walk and ancient
woodworking demonstration at Chiswick Pier Fun Day. The Charlton site was the
subject of a press release and a guided walk was organised to Bermondsey. Two
further weeks of summer fieldwork were completed at Charlton (July) and Putney
(August), as were assessment visits to the Tower of London and Rainham / Purfleet
(links developed with Historic Royal Palaces and RSPB Rainham).
Radiocarbon results returned for the Vauxhall sample were late Mesolithic in date.
At Fulham, a newly discovered structure was sampled for radiocarbon dating during
the FoBA event (returning an Iron Age date) and a second structure was sampled for
dendrochronological analysis. The latter sample unfortunately did not date,
however map regression suggests an early 18th century date for the structure. A
sample of human bone was also submitted for radiocarbon dating (from a skull
discovered by a mudlarker Nick Stevens at Burrells Wharf) this also returned
an early 18th century date.
During this quarter, TDP was commissioned by Giffords to undertake desk based
assessment of the Town Pier at Gravesend, which included a visit to the site.
Events attended:
Pimms on the Quad (NRC/GM), London Bridge Festival (NRC/GM), Tower of London
Open Foreshore (NRC, LR, EW), Gunnersbury Park Museum (LJR), UCL 4 London
(NRC/GM), Thames Festival (NRC/GM/LJR)
Figure 10: Tower Beach Open Weekend, July 2009 (photo by Dan Swift)
Dissemination:
Academic papers: 1 x Masters essay completed (Juanita MacDougall)
Articles for Talk of the Thames, British Archaeology
Newspaper/Newsletter: 2nd TDP Newsletter, Evening Standard, BBC, ITV
Lectures presented: Fulham Palace (NRC/Phil Emery), Greenwich Industrial Society
(LR/EW), MiD (NRC/LR), Greenwich Heritage Centre (LR/EW), Orpington and District
Archaeological Society (GM)
Publicity material: several hundred postcards distributed at summer events
Exhibition: Chiswick Pier Trust
Resources developed:
Key site information for Alderman Stairs, Fulham, Putney and Bermondsey uploaded
to website (NRC).
Team discussion of Riverpedia project (all)
Article about the UCL Public Engagement Unit uploaded to TDP website (LJR).
FGW14 Charlton
FSW11 Bankside
Purpose
Summer Season Wk4
Preparation and survey with MoLA Geomatics
FROG training
Sampling, survey with MoLA Geomatics
Assessment visit
FROG led fieldwork
Guided walk
Assessment visit
Assessment visit
Excavation of skeleton, survey with MoLA Geomatics
Filming with Tollan Films
Filming with BBC Inside Out
Guided walk
This quarter saw the completion of the 2009 Summer Season with fieldwork at
Bermondsey in September, and the 5th cycle of FROG Training with a weekend
session held at Strand on the Green in October.
The Vauxhall Mesolithic structure was revisited, again with English Heritage and
Museum of London staff, and further samples taken to confirm the date from the
original sample. The first independent FROG project was initiated and run during
November at Carrara Wharf in Hammersmith, with support from the TDP team; the
FROG members discovered part of the 1729 bridge preserved within the dock.
Assessment visits were undertaken to two sites not examined by the TAS (to
Tripcockness and Burrells Wharf), making links with the Digging Dads Army Project
and the Thames and Field Metal Detecting Society. An assessment visit was also
made to Shadwell; a site previously investigated in detail by TAS and the City of
London Archaeological Society and identified as a possible key site. Access here is
difficult and it was decided to focus on a different site along this stretch of
foreshore. Guided walks were run in Richmond (working with the Environment
Trust), Greenwich (led by the author S.I. Martin) and at Bankside (complementing a
trip to Southwark Cathedral).
The Charlton site was again the focus of media attention with filming for the BBCs
Inside Out in December, while in January a further visit to Burrells Wharf discovered
the remainder of the skeleton of a child, whose skull had previously been dated to
the early 18th century (see 4th Quarter above).
Other project events included digital training sessions, and the first two lectures of
the TDP seminar series at LAARC. No commercial site work was undertaken during
this quarter.
Events attended:
Dover Marine Festival (LJR, EW, LAB), TEP Annual Forum (all), NAS Conference (EW),
HWMTA Networking workshop (LJR), Thames and Field Metal Detecting Society
meeting (NRC), Bishopsgate Institute Oral History Workshop (LJR), Web 2.0 and
Social Media workshop (NRC), Provosts Annual Award for Public Engagement (NRC,
LJR).
Dissemination:
Client reports: Gravesend DBA completed
Academic papers: 4 x Masters Dissertations completed (Eliott Wragg, Lisa Gray,
Lorna Richardson, Camille Czerkowicz)
Articles Talk of the Thames, London Archaeologist, Institute of Archaeology
newsletter.
Newspaper/Newsletter/Press: 3rd and 4th TDP Newsletters produced, BBC Inside
Out
Lectures presented: Rotherhithe and Bermondsey Local History Group (NRC), Tidal
Thames Conference (GM), Society of Antiquaries (GM), Southwark Cathedral (NRC),
IoA Undergraduate Introduction and MA Public Archaeology course (LJR), Birkbeck
(GM), Richmond Archaeology Society (LJR), TDP Forum (all), Digital Strategies in
Heritage Conference (LJR), TDP Winter Social (GM, NRC), Theoretical Archaeology
Group Conference, Durham (NRC), LAMAS (NRC/Phil Emery), Chiswick Pier Trust
(LJR).
Publicity material: postcards in FROG packs
Exhibitions: Chiswick Pier Trust, LAARC, Greenwich Heritage Centre
Resources developed:
Key site information uploaded for Strand-on-the-Green, Chelsea and Vauxhall (NRC).
Application to Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust to develop foreshore Fact Sheets
successful (NRC).
Team discussion of Riverpedia project (all)
New TDP A4A set created from artefacts held in the TAS archive (NRC).
Howard Trust project in development (LJR)
Purpose
Monitoring visit
Assessment visit
Monitoring visit with UniFROG
Assessment visit
Assessment visit
Assessment visit
Assessment visit
Preparation and survey with MoLA Geomatics
FROG Training
Preparation and survey with MoLA Geomatics
FROG Training
Site visits during the winter largely consisted of assessment trips in order to inform
forthcoming training sessions and summer fieldwork during 2010. The site at
Vauxhall was again visited with project partners (Museum of London and Thames
Explorer Trust) and initial fieldwork was undertaken with regard to the TDP
Directors World War 2 project (focusing on the work of the Thames Flood Unit). An
Figure 14: Guided walk for Birkbeck students and FROG Training at Trig Lane, March 2010
Events attended:
UCL Remarkable Rivers (LJR, NRC, GM), LAMAS Conference (NRC, GM)
Figure 15: Childrens activities at the Remarkable Rivers event, UCL, February 2010
Schools events:
Hermitage Primary School, Wapping
Dissemination:
Articles Current Archaeology, Island History, Past Horizons.
Newspaper/Newsletter/Press: BBC Inside Out
Lectures presented: Blue Badge Guides (NRC), Chelsea Society (NRC), Twickenham
Local History Society (NRC), LAMAS Conference (NRC, GM), UCL BA Undergraduates,
(NRC/EW), Birkbeck Archaeology Society (LJR), Bristol MA Archaeology and Screen
Media (LJR). Eliot School 6th form (LJR), Havering and Colchester 6th Forms (LJR),
University of Luzern, Switzerland (LJR)
Publicity materials: TDP postcards in FROG packs. New publicity leaflets printed. 100
T-shirts ordered (first order sold out).
Exhibition: Hermitage Community Moorings
Resources developed:
Key site information uploaded for Bankside and Trig Lane (NRC).
TDP Research Framework completed and uploaded (NRC).
Riverpedia articles on Antiquarian Observations, Foreshore Pioneers, Commercial
Units and the Thames Archaeological Survey uploaded (NRC).
FGW14 Charlton
FCY01 Trig Lane
FTH15 Burrells Wharf
Purpose
Sampling and survey with MoLA Geomatics
Visit to excavations
Assessment visit
Assessment visit
Monitoring visit
Assessment visit
Assessment visit
Assessment visit
Preparation and survey with Geomatics
Filming with BBC
UniFROG Training
FROG Photo Team Safari
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Summer season Wk1
Guided walk
Team familiarisation
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Summer Season Wk 2
Assessment visit
During this quarter, trips to sites consisted of further assessment visits, follow up
work on those previously visited and fieldwork with the FROG (both for training and
as part of the 2010 Summer Season). Thus, the newly discovered fish trap at Nine
Elms was surveyed and sampled for radiocarbon dating and two sites were visited as
part of the Thames at War project (Fulham Palace and Westminster).
Figure 16: Defining the WW2 river wall breach at Fulham, March 2010.
Those sites which had only previously been visited by one of the Community
Archaeologists were the subject of further familiarisation with a view to future work
(Deptford, Tripcockness, Brentford, and Burrells Wharf). The site chosen as next
location for training Greenwich Palace was also the subject of press interest with
filming by the BBCs Digging for Britain (broadcast summer 2010). A sample was
recovered from the probable Tudor jetty structure and has been submitted to
English Heritage for dendrochonological analysis. A guided walk for staff from the
Home Office was run at Trig Lane, on behalf of the Thames Explorer Trust. Two
weeks of Summer Season fieldwork were completed at Charlton (May) and Burrells
Wharf (June). Day 2 training opportunities were also offered on weekdays to FROGs
wanting to complete their course at Charlton.
The independent FROG groups were active during this quarter with sessions at
Isleworth and Bermondsey, and a FROG photography project visiting the Greenwich
and Burrells Wharf sites. An independent FROG trained group (Syon House
Research Associates) also undertook foreshore recording at Syon House.
Project events during this quarter included a number run as part of the Riverpedia
project including a lecture by author S.I. Martin on the Black Waterfront, the first
Riverpedia workshop on the Thames at War and a public event at Docklands
Settlement the Docklands Discovery Day. Other events included the final lecture in
the evening seminar series at LAARC and a family event at RSPB Rainham.
Figure 18: Attendees at the Thames at War Riverpedia workshop, May 2010
Events attended:
Centre for Audio-Visual Studies in Archaeology (LJR), CBA/London Archaeological
Forum (NRC, LJR, EW), Gallery Preview, Museum of London (NRC), Bermondsey and
Rotherhithe Carnival (SH, GM, LJR), Greenfest, Hammersmith (LJR)
Schools events:
St Marys School, Isleworth (Howard Trust)
Dissemination:
Client reports: Amylum Silo and PLA dredging reports
Articles for Current Archaeology, Talk of the Thames.
Newspaper/Newsletter/Press: 5th TDP Newsletter, Greenwich Time article, UCL
Alumni magazine. BBC Digging for Britain filming at Greenwich.
Lectures presented: Richmond Archaeology Society (NRC), Wandsworth Historical
Society (NRC), Kingston upon Thames Archaeology Society (LJR), Kingston
Association of Wrens (EW)
Publicity materials: TDP postcards in FROG packs and Mortimer Wheeler House
reception. New publicity leaflets printed.
Resources developed:
FROG Network set up on TDP website.
Key site information uploaded for Chiswick, Greenwich Palace and Burrells Wharf
(NRC).
Foreshore Fact Sheets: Five completed by Chiz Harward of Urban Archaeology
(information about fish traps, jetties / wharves, bargebeds / gridirons, causeways,
vessels) and uploaded.
FROG Guides 1-3 completed (information about fieldwork, outreach and unexploded
ordnance) and uploaded to FROG Network (NRC, LJR).
Riverpedia article on Fishtraps on the Thames uploaded (NRC).
FRM16 Kew
FGW23 Tripcockness
FWS03 Rotherhithe
FTH13 Millwall
Purpose
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Summer Season Wk 3
Open Foreshore weekend
Summer Season Wk 4
FROG Training
Guided public walks
Summer Season Wk 5
FROG Training
Guided public walks
Sampling and survey with MoLA Geomatics and RAS
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Summer Season Wk 6
FROG Training
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Summer Season Wk 7
Guided public walk
Assessment and sampling with TAF
Figure 17: Final day of Summer Season fieldwork at Rotherhithe, September 2010
During this quarter, five weeks of Summer Season fieldwork were completed with
the FROG at the Tower of London (July), Greenwich Palace (early August), Strand on
the Green (late August), Tripcockness (early September) and Rotherhithe (late
September). Day 2 training opportunities were also offered on weekends to FROGs
wanting to complete their course at Greenwich, Strand on the Green, Tripcockness
and Rotherhithe. Survey with MoLA Geomatics was undertaken at Kew, to support
the ongoing work of the Richmond Archaeological Society on this site, and samples
taken from two structures (a causeway and a possible fishtrap) these later
returned medieval dates. Sampling was also undertaken at Tripcockness (Bronze
Age paleoenvironmental deposits) and on a wattle panel (likely to be part of a 15th
century eel or fish basket) at Millwall on the Isle of Dogs. A number of sites were
also visited as part of the Thames at War project (in the City, Southwark, Lambeth
and Wandsworth).
The independent FROG groups were active during this quarter with a guided walk led
by CoLAS / FROG members to Wapping, and the continuing FROG photography
project.
A number of on-site public events were run during the summer, both as part of the
Festival of British Archaeology and as part of the wider TDP programme these
included visits to the River Police Museum and a guided tour of the MoLA
excavations at the Theatre in Shoreditch, attendance at the Open Foreshore
weekend at the Tower Beach, outreach stalls at Hall Place in Bexley and finds
handling sessions at the Museum of London, and TDP outreach stalls (manned by
FROG members) in place during fieldwork at the Tower of London, Strand on the
Green and Greenwich Palace, as well as guided public walks.
During this quarter the Thames Estuary Partnership requested that no further
commercial work was administered through them, therefore all future commercial
projects (as part of the long term sustainability of the TDP) were undertaken outside
HLF project time; either as freelance projects or administered through Museum of
London Archaeology. There were also changes to the project team Lorna
Richardson went part-time to begin a programme of full time postgraduate study,
and Mike Webber was appointed as part time Outreach Officer. In June 2010, the
GIS Officer post also became vacant upon the resignation of Sue Harrington.
Events attended:
PEU Workshop (LJR), MoLA Summer Party (NRC), Pimms on the Quad (GM, NRC,
EW), FoBA events [BAA Awards (GM, NRC, EW); Tower of London Open Foreshore
weekend (NRC, EW); Museum of London: Finds Handling (NRC, EW); Hall Place
Bexley (NRC)], Thames Festival (LJR), Hermitage Moorings Project Launch (EW),
Isleworth Open House (LJR) UEL Freshers Fayre (LJR).
Schools events:
Futureversity (28/07/10), MoL Youth Engagement (16/08/10)
Dissemination:
Client reports: Written Schemes of Investigation for Tower of London and Kew.
Internal reports: Community Archaeology Interim Report; Outreach Interim Report.
Articles for Current Archaeology; Talk of the Thames.
Newspaper/Newsletter/Press: Londons Olympic Waterscape film (June 2010)
Royal Holloway University, 6th and 7th TDP Newsletters. BBC Digging for Britain
(broadcast 09/09/10).
Lectures presented: West Essex Archaeological Group (EW), Thames and Field Metal
Detecting Society (NRC)
Resources developed:
Meeting to discuss monitoring programme and development (GM, NRC, EW)
Howard Trust: lesson / session plans see Evaluation Report (Richardson, 2011)
Key site information uploaded for Tower of London, Tripcockness and Rotherhithe
(NRC, EW).
Riverpedia article on Medieval whales and whaling uploaded (NRC).
Purpose
Assessment visit
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Guided public walk
Monitoring visit
Events attended:
TEP Forum (NRC, MW, GM), National Maritime Museum lecture (NRC), Henley River
and Rowing Museum event (NRC), CBA Story of London (GM, LJR).
Figure 21: TDP Outreach Officer Mike Webber at the TEP Forum, October 2010
Dissemination:
Articles for London Archaeologist; Talk of the Thames; DIG (USA)
Newspaper/Newsletter/Press: articles in the Guardian, Evening Standard online,
South London Press and widespread web notices (google london oldest structure
vauxhall)
Lectures presented: Docklands Study Group (EW), College and Canons of Southwark
Cathedral (NRC), Birkbeck Archaeology Society (NRC), NAS Conference (GM & EW),
Spelthorne Archaeology Group (GM).
Publicity materials: TDP postcards in Mortimer Wheeler House reception, leaflets at
Southwark Cathedral, leaflets sent to Water in London conference (18/01/10)
Exhibitions: FROG Photography:
The Thames in Focus at Discover Greenwich (15/09/10 01/11/10).
River Crossing at East London Photo Festival (01/10/10 31/10/10)
Resources developed:
Slideshare uploads of Riverpedia Human remains presentations (NRC)
TDP Bibliography uploaded (NRC)
Riverpedia articles on London Riverside Churches uploaded (NRC)
FROG Guide 4 (Human Remains) uploaded to FROG Network (NRC)
Purpose
Guided public walk
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
FROG Training
Monitoring visit
A number of on-site activities were organised during this quarter to capitalise on the
publicity generated from the press release of the Vauxhall site, and as auction prizes
from the last quarters conference. A guided walk to the Vauxhall site (with Jon
Cotton from the Museum of London) revealed a number of new timbers, as well a
large assemblage of prehistoric lithics, and the site was subsequently re-surveyed by
MoLA Geomatics. Trips were organised to Southwark Cathedral and also to the
Spitalfields Charnel House (by Jane Sidell). A third Riverpedia workshop on the
subject of place-names (and including a guided walk) was held at UCL and a further
round of FROG Training was held at Putney. A monitoring trip to Chelsea by the TDP
Community Archaeologists found a human femur: the third to be recovered at this
site.
Figure 22: FROG member Andy Becker with lithic find at Vauxhall, February 2011
This quarter saw a noticeable increase in the number of schools events (see below)
organised by Mike Webber, the TDP Outreach Officer.
Events attended:
CASPAR seminar series lecture (NRC), Geoff Egan memorial (GM, NRC)
Schools events:
Foreshore walks: West Kent College, Art and Design, Brady Arts Centre, Fashion and
Textiles, Whittington Hospital, Education Unit, London Wildlife Trust, Family
Learning.
Resource and activity trials Henry Maynard Primary School, LB Waltham Forest, The
Greek School, LB Haringey, Havering Sixth Form College, A level Archaeology, LB
Havering, Colchester 6th Form College, A level Archaeology, Scargill Infant School, LB
Havering, St. Marys RC Primary School, LB Hounslow.
Dissemination:
Articles for London Archaeologist; Rescue News; Talk of the Thames; NAS
Newsletter; Fish traps article for Martin Welch Festshrift.
Newspaper/Newsletter/Press: article in the Fortean Times
Lectures presented: Chiswick Pier Trust (EW), Friends of Raynes Park Library (EW),
Research and Presentation - UCL 2nd Year (NRC / EW), UCL Lunch Hour Lecture (GM),
Spelthorne U3A (NRC), Awards for the Presentation of Heritage Research (NRC),
Enfield Archaeological Society (NRC)
Publicity materials: TDP postcards in Mortimer Wheeler House reception / in FROG
packs.
Resources developed:
Key site information uploaded for Vauxhall (NRC)
FROG Guide 5 (Place Names) uploaded to FROG Network (NRC)
Place names presentation uploaded via Slideshare to Riverpedia (NRC)
Development and trials continue of monitoring packs (EW)
During this quarter it was decided at a Team Meeting (March 2011) to mothball the
ARK (Archaeological Recording Kit) component of the TDP website.
Purpose
Guided public walk
FROG Training
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Filming with Time Team
Guided walk for Southwark Cathedral FAC
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Assessment visit
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Summer Season Wk 1
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Summer Season Wk 2
Survey and sampling with MoLA Geomatics and
SARA
Assessment visit
As in 2009-10, the spring / summer period was particularly busy on site with a range
of fieldwork activities taking place. In April 2011, TDP ran a public event with
Historic Royal Palaces and the Thames and Field Metal Detecting Society, which
included a guided walk of the Tower Beach and displays and presentations in the
Waterloo Block at the Tower of London. The 8th cycle of FROG training saw
participants on the foreshore at Greenwich Palace in May, and all 300+ certified
FROGs were offered the opportunity to undertake fieldwork from May August.
Fieldwork included Summer Season work at Brentford and Wapping, and monitoring
visits to key sites in east and central London.
Three sites were surveyed by MoLA Geomatics: Wapping, Brentford and Syon Reach
where the TDP worked with SARA (Syon House Research Associates) to record the
foreshore features, supported by the Maritime Volunteer Service. The site at
Burrells Wharf was revisited during this quarter, both to undertake monitoring and
to work with Channel 4s Time Team on filming for a forthcoming special on East
Londons maritime history (to be broadcast in summer 2012 to coincide with the
Olympic Games). In June 2011, MoLA Geomatics were also employed to undertake
GIS work for the TDP filling the role left vacant by Sue Harringtons resignation in
June 2010.
Figure 25: FROG Team photo with Tony Robinson at Burrells Wharf, July 2011
Other events and activities organised during this quarter included a second families
event at the RSPB Centre, and a very large public event at Southwark Cathedral,
organised with the kind permission of Dean and Chapter. Over 230 people attended
a free evening lecture at the Cathedral; displays were provided by TDP, TEP, LAARC,
the Cathedrals Education Department and the FROG Photography Team, who
mounted a temporary display of images taken during photo pilgrimages organised
by FROG member, Peter Kyte. In July, a temporary TDP exhibition (curated by Mike
Webber) was installed in the Museum of Londons Archaeology in Action gallery.
Figure 26: Lecture at Southwark Cathedral, July 2011 (Photo by Anies Hassan)
Events attended:
USA Ambassadors Reception (NRC), IoA Public Engagement meeting (NRC)
Schools events:
Resource and activity trials:
Hazelbury Junior School, LB Enfield, 3 groups in-school workshops (10/05/11)
Woodside School, LB Bexley, SEN, 15-25 year olds, 3 in-school and 1 foreshore
workshops, (16/05/11, FS 19/05/11, 17/06/11, 24/06/11, 19/07/11)
Workshops undertaken:Hazelbury Junior School, LB Enfield 3 groups in-school workshops (11/05/11)
Woodlands, Infant School, LB Redbridge, 2 groups in-school workshops (13/05/11)
Frith Manor Primary School, LB, Barnet, 3 groups in-school workshops (23/05/11)
Scargill Infant School, LB Havering, in-school and foreshore workshops (24/03/11 and
FS 06/06/11)
Hillingdon Manor school, LB Hillingdon, 2 groups in-school, 1 foreshore, 15-25 year
olds, SEN (27/05/11 and FS 07/06/11)
Dissemination:
Academic papers: 6 x BA dissertations completed (Jo Warren, Alice Gibbs, Roxane
Burke, Charlotte Meynell, Adah Edmondson - UCL, and Andrea Choate Birkbeck, 4 x
dissertations in progress - Sarah Lucas, Tina Hoyle, Paul Clabburn, Dee Hannah Birkbeck)
Article for Talk of the Thames
Newspaper/Newsletter/Press: Filming with Time Team (July 2011)
Lectures presented: Crown Estates (NRC), SPMA / IFA (NRC), LAMAS Conference
(NRC/EW), Stow Lecture (GM), Charlton Society (EW), Londonicity Conference (NRC)
Resources developed:
Key site information uploaded for Brentford (EW, NRC)
Dipity timeline embedded for Custom House key site information (NRC)
On site trials of Monitoring Packs (EW, GM, NRC)
FGW14 Charlton
FHL04 Isleworth
FHL12 Strand-on-the-Green
FHM07 Fulham
FWW03 Putney
FLM01 Vauxhall
Purpose
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Survey with MoLA Geomatics
Summer Season Wk 3
Public event
Monitoring visit
Filming with Time Team
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
Monitoring visit
On-site work during the final quarter of the HLF project comprised five days at the
Tower of London foreshore (working with MoLA Geomatics, FROG members and
mudlarkers from the Society of Thames Mudlarks and the Thames and Field Metal
Detecting Society) which included attendance at the very busy Open Foreshore
weekend (working with HRP, CoLAS and Thames21). The remainder of the site work
was monitoring visits to key sites in central and west London, and a further session
of filming with Time Team at Charlton.
Figure 28: Erosion on the foreshore at the Tower Beach, July 2011
Events attended:
Tower of London Open Foreshore (NRC), Thames Festival (MW)
Dissemination:
Reports: Riverpedia report produced for UCL Public Engagement Unit.
Academic papers: 3 x BA (Sarah Lucas, Tina Hoyle, Dee Hannah - Birkbeck) and 2 x
MA dissertations in progress (Roz Currie UCL, Paul Clabburn Birkbeck)
Article for London Archaeologist
Newsletter/Press: Filming with Time Team (July 2011), TDP films uploaded to 360
Productions Youtube, TDP Newsletter
Lectures presented: Wandsworth Historical Society (NRC), Henley River and Rowing
Museum (NRC), Greenwich Historical Society (EW), All at Sea and Site to Store (GM).
Publicity materials: TDP postcards in Mortimer Wheeler House reception / in FROG
packs. TDP balloons in Museum of London Shop.
Exhibitions: Lost and Found on the River Thames in MoL until September 30th.
Resources developed:
Riverpedia key site information enhanced with new introductory abstracts,
embedded slide shows and map links (NRC)
Key site information uploaded for Wapping (EW, NRC)
Slideshare uploads of Riverpedia Sail to Steam presentation (EW, NRC)
Summary data
HLF Targets
Events
Over 130 events were organised and presented by TDP staff during the three years
of the project. These ranged from childrens activities and schools sessions, family
and adult guided foreshore walks and visits to other sites and museums across
Greater London, FROG training and archaeological fieldwork (survey, sampling,
recording and monitoring), seminars, workshops, evening lectures and conferences;
these also included a series of more specialised workshops and courses which was
developed as part of the Riverpedia project. All events, with the exception of the
Foreshore Forums in 2009 and 2010, have been free of charge.
Nearly 7000 people attended events run by the TDP. Additionally, the project team
presented numerous lectures to local archaeological and historical societies, in
community centres, at academic conferences and universities, and at museums and
heritage centres, including the British Museum. Meetings were held with a large
number of partner organisations, project supporters and collaborators (see overleaf)
to facilitate events, and to build a wide network of contacts with regard to the future
sustainability of the programme.
Website
A wide variety of information was developed and disseminated online through the
dedicated project website as part of the community archaeology programme, as
outlined in the quarterly report sections above. This included information about the
key sites, FROG Guides and Factsheets, Riverpedia articles, and shorter contributions
posted as FROG Blogs. In addition to adding text and image content directly into the
Textpattern CMS, a range of different methods were used to embed data within the
TDP website, including Scribd (PDF content), Slideshare (PDF, Powerpoint, and mpeg
files) and Dipity (timeline). Flickr (online photo sharing and management) was used
to host image content: over 1,700 photos have been uploaded to the TDP staff
account. These images are geotagged (linked to mapping), and are searchable
through a number of different avenues: by borough, by key site, by event and
through the use of tags. A Wikipedia article about the project was created in January
2010. For further information about the use of the website, see Richardson 2011.
Links:
www.thamesdiscovery.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/
http://www.scribd.com/ThamesDiscoveryProgramme
http://www.slideshare.net/thamesdiscoveryprogramme
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_Discovery_Programme
Hits (as of 12/09/11):
TDP site: 353,384 representing112,310 unique visitors
Flickr: 70,026 views of images
Scribd (74 uploads): 18,500+ reads
Slideshare (21 uploads): 2,000+ views
Dipity timeline: 250+ views
Wikipedia: 6,096 views of article
Additionally, thirteen short films were made by Anies Hassan of Tollan Films as part
of the project; these were designed to introduce viewers to the project aims and
methodologies, archaeology on the key sites, health and safety, and also included
footage of the FROG members talking about their work on the project. As well as
being embedded within the TDP website, the project films have also been widely
disseminated online through uploading to a number of other sites including Vimeo,
UCLTV (YouTube), 360 Productions (YouTube), Facebook and Past Horizons. In June
2010, a 4 minute film about the project, presented by TDP Outreach Officer Lorna
Richardson, was installed as part of the Museum of Londons Archaeology in Action
Gallery.
Links:
http://www.vimeo.com/thamesdiscovery
http://www.youtube.com/user/UCLTV#g/c/14089B3982C84BD3
http://www.youtube.com/user/360Production#grid/user/1B9F9FC9DF7F5DA8
http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/video/vidnews_feb11_300kW.html
http://www.pasthorizons.tv/tv/Tollan/public/
Hits (as of 12/09/11): 19,154. [NB viewing statistics from the Archaeology Channel
are not publicly available].
Average monthly visitor numbers to the Museum of London: c 38, 000 people
Social Media:
Twitter: 445 followers
Facebook group: 252 members / Fan page: 110 members 20,000+ post views
The TDP website has been archived with the British Library:
http://www.webarchive.org.uk/ukwa/target/49905706/source/alpha
Schools
See Richardson, 2011
Exhibitions
Travelling exhibitions have been set up at numerous locations across Greater London
and beyond, as part of larger community and civic events such as GreenFest
(Hammersmith) UEL Mayfest / Freshers Fayre, Isleworth Open House, Gunnersbury
Museum, Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Carnival, Hermitage Moorings, Thames
Gateway Forum, the Thames Estuary Partnership Forum (three times), London
Bridge Festival, the Thames Festival (three times) and the Dover Marine Festival.
Displays were also set up at Festival of British Archaeology events such as those held
at Fulham Palace, Hall Place Bexley, the Tower of London (three times), Museum of
London (twice) and Museum of London in Docklands. Public events organised /
presented by TDP also included small pop up exhibitions and information about the
project. Temporary exhibitions were installed at Southwark Cathedral (one night
only), Greenwich Heritage Centre, Chiswick Pier Trust, Discover Greenwich and
LAARC, and the project is featured in the Archaeology in Action Gallery at the
Museum of London, both as part of permanent gallery installation (film produced by
Tollan Films) and from July September 2011 Lost and Found in the River Thames;
a temporary exhibition about the TDP curated by TDP Outreach Officer, Mike
Webber.
Sustainability
The Thames Discovery Programme is a high profile community archaeology project:
the project generated widespread media coverage (television, newspaper and
online) and in 2010 the project website won the British Archaeological Award for the
Best Representation of Archaeology in the Media while in 2011, the project was one
of five projects from across Britain nominated for Best Research Project by Current
Archaeology. Negotiations with Museum of London Archaeology have resulted in an
offer of employment for two core TDP staff (one full time and one part time) from
October 2011, fulfilling the final HLF Project Aim with regard to embedding the
project within an institutional context to secure a sustainable future. The Thames
Discovery Programme remains committed to supporting and encouraging the FROG
through email and phone contact, meetings in person both on site and in the office,
the provision of equipment, and the production of fact sheets, guidelines, archive
information and key site information to add to the Training Packs each participant
received at their Day 1 Training sessions. Further development of online resources,
including use of the FROG Network and the Community Map, are key to the
development of the monitoring system established during the lifetime of the HLF
project.
In March 2008, a list of proposed key sites was drawn up (see Appendix 1). Of those,
all have been visited, with the exception of Barking Creek, in addition to many other
sites (see following chapter). Archaeological fieldwork across Greater London
(including guided walks, assessment visits, training sessions, summer recording and
survey work, the radiocarbon sampling programme and monitoring sessions) has
clearly demonstrated that much remains to be discovered within the inter-tidal zone.
Future development of the fieldwork programme will expand the number of key
sites, continue to offer summer season fieldwork for FROG members, and encourage
the adoption of key sites for monitoring by independent FROG team. The
Bermondsey and Syon FROG teams are now well established and groups are evolving
at Greenwich and Vauxhall. Continuing to work with local archaeological societies
with foreshore interests (such as CoLAS, RAS, WHS, the Society of Thames Mudlarks
and the Thames and Field Metal Detecting Society) is also important. The foreshores
of the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, and Newham remain largely
unexplored (by either TAS or TDP) and it is hoped that this can be remedied in the
future: the foreshore adjacent to King George V Dock has been visited and an
abandoned ship noted. This site has been identified as a candidate for future work.
Links with universities will also be explored during the next phase of the project,
especially with regard to future FROG training opportunities (such as the Summer
School run with Birkbeck University in August 2011), research projects (including
further undergraduate and postgraduate studies) and connections with public
engagement initiatives. The generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund is here
gratefully acknowledged and it is hoped that the TDP model for a successful
community archaeology and outreach programme is one that can be widely applied.
Iron Age, a well preserved sequence of foreshore deposits (protected by the existing
Chambers Wharf jetty) and a large and varied group of post-medieval structures
including a possible fish trap, nautical timbers (some reused as gridirons) and
artefacts relating to riverside industry such as sugar refinery ware. The skeleton of a
young woman, dated to the late medieval period was excavated on this site and
artefacts relating to modern Hindu activity have also been recorded.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623378502706/
Brentford Riverside FHL10 / Brentford Ait FRM22: NGR 518491 177748
Some work was undertaken at this site by the Thames Archaeological Survey, and
during the late 19th and early 20th century, the Brentford area was investigated by
antiquarians and archaeologists from the London Museum: Sir Mortimer Wheeler
found Roman remains near the mouth of the River Brent. An assemblage of
abandoned vessels survives on the Brentford foreshore and on the ait, together with
structures associated with boat building and repair. The TDP recorded two
abandoned vessels which are thought to be ex Royal Navy pinnaces dating to the
20th century.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157627485189446/
Burrells Wharf FTH15: NGR 537567 178295
This site was not investigated by the Thames Archaeological Survey. In April 2009, a
mudlarker found a human skull on the foreshore, which was reported to the
Museum of London. A sample from the skull was radiocarbon dated by English
Heritage (to the early 18th century) and the rest of the childs skeleton was excavated
in early 2010. This child had been deliberately buried on the foreshore. Burrells
Wharf is also the site of the launch of Isambard Kingdom Brunels last project, the SS
Great Eastern. The TDP has recorded the remains of the launch slipways surviving on
the foreshore, and is campaigning with the Brunel Museum for a memorial at the
site.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623253967135/
Charlton FGW14: NGR 540858 179179
This site was not investigated by the Thames Archaeological Survey. Survey by the
TDP / FROG has recorded two large structures on the foreshore, the site below
Castles Shipbreaking yard. One appears to have been constructed in 1904/05 out of
timbers from HMS Duke of Wellington, at least one of HMSs Anson, Edgar or
Hannibal, and iron from HMS Ajax. The other seems likely to have been built in the
19th century of timbers from a warship of small frigate or sloop type. Revetments
were also recorded as being partially built from vessel timbers. Thus, this site
preserves archaeological evidence for one of the most revolutionary periods of naval
development in less than 40 years the ships of Nelson had been replaced by steel
battleships, powered by steam engines and mounting huge guns. Apart from
submerged shipwrecks, this may well be the only known archaeological evidence of
vessels from this period in Europe.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623253828865/
Chelsea FKN01: NGR 526715 177301
Archaeological features surviving at this site have been investigated in detail by the
Thames Archaeological Survey and Museum of London Archaeology. The site is
significant because of the surviving deposits, structures and artefacts representing
thousands of years of activity. These include the remains of a paleoenvironmental
deposit which contains an extraordinary artefactual assemblage including a Neolithic
wooden club or beater, lithics, ceramics and animal and human bones. Part of a
Bronze Age trepanned skull was found in 2001 and two leg bones have been dated
to the Bronze Age and Neolithic periods. A recent monitoring visit to the site by TDP
found a third femur. Also on the site are two mid-Saxon fish traps and timbers
representing post-medieval activity probably relating to the Greaves boatyard.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623378489178/
Chiswick FHL20: NGR 521828 177921
This site was surveyed by the Thames Archaeological Survey and Museum of London
Archaeology. The Victorian causeway at the site was recorded in detail, providing a
useful study of erosion. Other features of interest on the site include the remains of
a jetty and peat deposits exposed on Chiswick Ait.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623378522804/
Custom House FCY04: NGR 533113 180576
This site was recorded by the Thames Archaeological Survey and also by the City of
London Archaeology Society during the 1990s. Features of interest include several
phases of wharf structures located beneath Billingsgate Wharf, the 1819 Custom
House gridiron and riverside wall (which includes parish boundary markers and high
water marks), the remains of three vessels and an interesting artefactual assemblage
including a wide variety of shells relating to the Billingsgate Fishmarket, animal
bones, clay pipes and ceramics. Mudlarkers have also reported a number of finds
from the site, including four Anglo-Saxon strap ends.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623253795681/
Fulham Palace FHM07: NGR 524009 175951
Work at this site by the Thames Archaeological Survey recorded a limited number of
features on the foreshore; these included peat deposits and timber piles which may
represent the remains of a stair or causeway providing access to the Bishops Palace.
Survey by the Thames Discovery Programme in 2009 recorded three timber piles
representing a structure of as yet unknown function of Iron Age date; interesting
research remains to be undertaken on the possible association of this somewhat
mysterious structure and the wider archaeological landscape. Modern ritual Hindu
activity has also been recorded at this site.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623378600754/
Greenwich Palace FGW04: NGR 538642 178088
This site was studied in detail by the Thames Archaeological Survey, however recent
work by the Thames Discovery Programme has recorded a range of new features,
suggesting considerable erosion is occurring at the site. These include a number of
new timber and masonry structures together with deposits of unabraded ceramics
and other artefacts, which probably relate to Tudor activity on the waterfront of the
nearby palace of Placentia. Further east, a series of timber piles and baseplates,
likely to be medieval in origin, have been recorded these appear to represent a
jetty or pier structure. Other features of interest include the 17th century riverside
wall (the foundations of which are also visible), and the waterfront of the Trinity
Almshouses at the eastern end of the zone.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623378537596/
Isleworth FHL04: NGR 516822 176029
The foreshore at Isleworth, and along Syon Reach, was investigated during the 1950s
1970s by Ivor Noel Hume and the West London Archaeological Field Group.
Fieldwork by the Thames Archaeological Survey and Museum of London Archaeology
recorded a mid Saxon fish trap on the foreshore during the 1990s. Further sampling
by the TDP confirmed the association of a contemporary causeway or access leading
to the trap. Additionally, recording was undertaken by the TDP / FROG on a
Victorian causeway structure and the masonry slipway near the London Apprentice
PH. An interesting assemblage of worked stone survives on the foreshore and Hindu
artefacts have been noted on a number of occasions.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623378456424/
Putney FWW03: NGR 524297 175598
The Thames Archaeological Survey recorded part of the surviving remains of the
1729 bridge footings, and the TDP completed a detailed survey of the same feature.
Also recorded at this site were a wooden drain and a causeway (probably both of
Victorian date) and parts of a very large hard, which includes a possible crane base,
located near Putney Railway Bridge. Other features of interest on the site include
drainage outfalls, and the remains of an aqueduct beneath Putney Bridge, Victorian
brick built riverside walls, and numerous finds of Hindu artefacts.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623378528208/
Rotherhithe FSW03: NGR 535265 179964
Recording by the TDP / FROG has added further detail to the site record created by
the Thames Archaeological Survey. Investigations were focussed at the eastern end
of the site where a large number of nautical timbers were recorded forming what
appears to be a slipway; these are likely to represent the remains of ship breaking
and building on the foreshore during the 18th century. Other structures of interest
include access features associated with the Mayflower PH, bargebeds, and
widespread artefact scatters of Delftware kiln waste and animal bone representing
localised waterfront activity.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623378576102/
Strand-on-the-Green FHL12: NGR 519314 177795
This zone, which includes the small island at Olivers Ait, was recorded by the
Thames Archaeological Survey during the 1990s and the TDP / FROG have
undertaken further survey at the site. Features of interest include a number of
historic public houses and private residences, evidence for localised industry in the
form of brewing and a large number of access features including landing stages,
stairs and causeways. Features recorded at the site included sections of the river
wall (including a small area of surviving Tudor brickwork), revetments and drainage
features.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623253941595/
Tower of London FTH01: NGR 533546 180440
This site has been previously investigated by the Thames Archaeological Survey and
Museum of London Archaeology. Recording by the TDP / FROG has demonstrated
that the foreshore has eroded severely at this site since the 1990s, especially at the
eastern end near Tower Bridge, where previously unexposed structures, likely to be
two phases of a river stair or jetty, probably of 17th or 18th century date, have been
recorded. These substantial structures, comprising a series of timber baseplates and
piles, and likely to be of several phases of construction are currently eroding out as
the surrounding foreshore deposits are washed away. Other recording undertaken
at the site included an examination of the medieval / post-medieval riverside wall
the foundations of which are also now exposed and, working with the Society of
Thames Mudlarks, TAF and the PAS, a finds survey of the artefactual assemblage
near Tower Bridge. Significant artefacts recorded include a whalebone, a cannon
ball, a syphilis syringe, a number of Roman coins, medieval and later coinage, and a
medieval bone buckle.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623253972149/
Trig Lane FCY01: NGR 531964 180797
The foreshore at Trig Lane has been previously surveyed on a number of occasions:
by the Thames Archaeological Survey and by Museum of London Archaeology (prior
to the construction of the Millennium Bridge). Fieldwork by the TDP/ FROG recorded
the base of a probable 17th century river stair and a number of later features such as
bargebeds and revetments; large multi-period finds scatters have also been
identified.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623253908151/
Tripcockness FGW23: NGR 545084 180713
This site was not investigated by the Thames Archaeological Survey. Features of
interest recorded by the TDP / FROG include a very large gridiron, a World War II
mine watching post and extensive Bronze Age peat deposits. Particularly notable are
the substantial remains of at least four wooden barges, hulked on the foreshore and
largely covered in silt. Our initial observations suggest that some of this group may
be ballast lighters. Such vessels were once very common Thames craft, used to
transport quantities of gravel dredged from river but no examples of wooden ballast
lighters survive in working order today, and thus we have a unique opportunity at
Tripcockness to record them: another first for the Thames Discovery Programme.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157624870625457/
Vauxhall FLM01: NGR 530242 178172
Work by the Museum of London, the Institute of Archaeology, the Thames
Archaeological Survey and Time Team has previously recorded significant prehistoric
remains at this site, including Bronze Age timber piles representing a possible bridge
or jetty, artefacts including spear heads, also dating to the Bronze Age and a possible
fish trap of Iron Age date. Numerous post-medieval structures, such as drainage
features and foreshore consolidation deposits including ceramics were also noted.
Survey by the TDP, English Heritage and Museum of London Archaeology
subsequently discovered further timbers, dating to the late Mesolithic period,
representing the remains of the oldest structure so far found in the London area.
Early Neolithic ceramics, animal bones, lithics and burnt flint were also recorded.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157623378496894/
Wapping FTH04: NGR 534733 179980
This site has been previously recorded by the Thames Archaeological Survey and the
City of London Archaeological Society. The TDP / FROG recorded a probable 19th
century causeway, a possible 18th century ships rudder, a large post-medieval,
roughly dressed tree-trunk, and an intriguing brick structure which may be
associated with London Dock. A number of Hindu artefacts have also been recovered
at this site.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/collections/72157625360445576/
Data Dissemination:
As described in the Quarterly Reports, the results of archaeological survey work at
the key sites are publicly available via the TDP website these include background
archaeological and historical information, lists of features observed by the Thames
Archaeological Survey and the TDP, site diaries and short field reports (journal-style
entries uploaded as FROG Blogs and articles in TDP Newsletters) with images held on
Flickr. TDP staff have also produced and /or contributed to a number of published
articles on a variety of subjects (see Project Bibliography).
Archaeological data for the key sites has been deposited with the National
Monuments Record (NMR) through the use of OASIS forms, the Greater London
Historic Environment Record (GLHER) as GIS feature class data for over 1000
features recorded on the sites and with the London Archaeological Archive and
Research Centre (LAARC) as interim foreshore survey reports and archive plots (hard
copy). A copy of this present report will also be included as part of the project
archive.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157623342681252/
Fulham (Carrara Wharf) FHM08: NGR 524505 175702
This zone had previously been investigated by the Thames Archaeological Survey and
some work was undertaken on the foreshore by the TDP / FROG as part of a FoBA
event with Fulham Palace. A number of features were recorded in the zone, in a
small area between Putney Bridge and the entrance to Carrara Dock including brick
riverside walls, the remains of a causeway and two large timber piles (which are part
of the early 18th century bridge). Further work within Carrara Dock itself discovered
the previously unrecorded northern abutment of the 1729 bridge, the first crossing
to be built on the Thames after London and Kingston Bridges.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157627532197337/
Greenwich Marsh FGW06: NGR 539099 178788:
This site had been previously assessed by the Thames Archaeological Survey and
Museum of London Archaeology. Post-medieval remains include wharf structures,
an historic sluice (the Bendish Sluice) and extensive evidence for boat building into
the present day.
King George V Dock FNW11 NGR 544231 180331
This site was not investigated by the Thames Archaeological Survey. An assessment
of the site by the Thames Discovery Programme identified a small 19th or 20th
century ship.
Kew FRM16 NGR 519296 177662
This site was recorded by the Thames Archaeological Society during the 1990s and
further, more detailed, survey was subsequently undertaken by the Richmond
Archaeological Society. A particularly enigmatic group of timbers was found below
Kew Bridge, where some 200 posts and stakes have been recorded so far. They
appeared to represent more than one structure, although no obvious pattern in their
layout could be discerned. More recently it has been suggested that the structures
represented could include a brushwood platform forming a causeway to facilitate
crossing at a known fording point; samples taken by the TDP returned medieval
dates.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157627656742834/
Millwall FTH13 NGR 537066 178889
This site was not investigated by the Thames Archaeological Survey. During regular
fieldwalking and examination of the foreshore during low tide windows, Nick Stevens
(TAF) observed numerous examples of woven basketry panels and in September
2010, a particularly well preserved example was cleaned, recorded and sampled for
radiocarbon dating. After sampling the remainder of the panel was not lifted and
was subsequently reburied on the foreshore. The sample was removed from a
surviving panel of basket work (c 1.20m x 0.7m) set in a deposit of Thames clays and
gravels within the intertidal zone and was comprised of reed or reed mace from a
section of woven reeds. This returned a date of cal AD 14151450.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157627654472982/
Nine Elms FWW17: NGR 529802 177771
A fish trap was first observed by Andy Hawkins (TET) at this site and comprised a
double row of timber piles, recorded and sampled by TDP and MoLA Geomatics and
dated to cal AD 550-670. It may be that this was originally a V-shaped structure.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157624178325145/
Queenhithe FCY02: NGR 532391 180695
The Queenhithe dock inlet has been a feature of Londons riverfront since the Saxon
period, and its significance has been recognised through its designation as a
Scheduled Ancient Monument (No. 118a). This means that the foreshore area within
the dock is protected and metal detecting is not permitted. Features of interest
recorded by the Thames Archaeological Survey and the Thames Discovery
Programme include a series of bargebed deposits and associated revetments, a
widespread multi-period artefact scatter and a large drain outfall, which represents
the confluence of the Walbrook tributary with the main river channel.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157627664401306/
Richmond Palace FRM11: NGR 517499 174727
This site was one of the first investigated by the Thames Archaeological Survey and
the Richmond Archaeological Society during the pilot stage of the TAS. Timber piles
at Crane Wharf were dated to Tudor period and represent the remains of access to
the palace complex at Richmond. The timbers are only visible during the annual
November Draw-Off period.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157625235069187/
Shadwell FTH07: NGR 535731 180738
During the 1990s the Thames Archaeological Survey and the City of London
Archaeological Society recorded disarticulated nautical remains including two large
18th century ships rudders. An assessment visit by TDP recorded considerable
erosion at the site, and difficulties with access.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157627664552626/
dated to the late Iron Age / early Roman period (160 BC to AD 150/220 cal). A
Roman intaglio, adopted as the TDP logo, was found at this site during the 1990s and
a possible early medieval fish trap has also been recorded here.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157627657600214/
Rainham / Purfleet: (beyond GLA boundaries) NGR 554042 179036
The foreshore immediately upstream of this area (within the London Borough of
Havering) was investigated by the Thames Archaeological Survey during the 1990s.
Near the RSPB centre at Rainham Marshes, a walkover survey of the foreshore and
riverside noted a limited post-medieval modern finds scatter, peat exposures
(including large trees), post medieval embankment and flood defence works and
military infrastructure associated with the use of the area during the 20th century.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157624926854460/
Gravesend: (beyond GLA boundaries) NGR 56479 17449
A desk based assessment of the Victorian Town Pier and foreshore in the vicinity of
the structure was prepared for Giffords. The work included a visit to the site.
Site photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thamesdiscovery/sets/72157627654284040/
Project Bibliography
Bell, N. 2011 Evaluation of the experience of the FROG volunteers in the Thames
Discovery Programme (unpublished report for HLF)
Cohen, N. 2008 Introducing the TDP in Talk of the Thames, Winter 2008, 6
Cohen, N. 2009a FROGs on the Foreshore in London Archaeologist, Vol. 12, No 6,
170-1
Cohen, N. 2009b Forward on the Foreshore in Talk of the Thames, Summer 2009, 8-9
Cohen, N. 2010a The Thames Discovery Programme: one year on... in Talk of the
Thames, Winter 2009/10, 6-7
Cohen, N. 2010b Thames Discovery Programme Research Framework
http://www.thamesdiscovery.org/riverpedia/research-framework
Cohen, N. 2010c Liquid History: excavating Londons great river in Current
Archaeology 244, 12-19
Cohen, N. 2010d Partnership in Action in Talk of the Thames, Winter 2010, 7
Cohen, N. 2011a Digging along the Thames in Dig (childrens magazine USA), 26-27
Cohen, N. 2011b Early Anglo-Saxon Fish Traps on the River Thames in Studies in Early
Anglo-Saxon Art and Archaeology; Papers in Honour of Martin Welch BAR British
Series 527, 131-8 (eds A. Reynolds, S. Brookes and S. Harrington)
Cohen, N. 2011c Londons Oldest Structure? in Talk of the Thames, Summer 2011, 12
Cohen, N. (in prep) Fieldwork on the Foreshore in London Archaeologist
Cohen, N. and Milne, G. 2011 Report on the Riverpedia project (unpublished report
for UCL Public Engagement Unit)
Cohen, N. and Stevens, N. (forthcoming) Medieval Fishing on the Isle of Dogs in
London Archaeologist Vol. 13, No 2
Milne, G 2010a Blitz on the River in Talk of the Thames, Winter 2010, 22-23
Milne, G. 2010b Rediscovering the Thames in J Galloway (ed) Tides & Floods: new
research on London and the tidal Thames from the Middle Ages to the 20th century
Centre for Metropolitan History, WPS no 4, 57-62
Milne, G., Cohen, N. and Cotton, J. 2011 Londons Top Secret in London
Archaeologist, Vol. 12, No 11, 287-289
Richardson, L. 2010 A perfect way to remember the Great Leviathan in Talk of the
Thames, Summer 2010, 16-17
www.thamesdiscovery.org
Appendix 1:
List of proposed key sites March 2008
Key sites
(C = central, W = west, E = east, N = north bank, S = south bank)
NW) Chelsea: Neolithic forest, human and animal remains, beater, two midSaxon fish traps, post-medieval boatyard
SC) Vauxhall: Bronze Age bridge / jetty, Iron Age fish trap
SE) Bermondsey: prehistoric peats, post-medieval shipyard and human remains
SE) Erith: prehistoric forest
NW) Chiswick: Victorian causeway (erosion study), jetty
SW) Putney Bridge: 1729 bridge footings
SE) Greenwich: palace landing stage
W) Richmond: palace landing stage
NC) Trig Lane: multi-period finds scatters, post-medieval / early modern stair and
revetments
NC) Custom House: wharf structures, boats, fishmarket assemblage
SC) Winchester Wharf: Roman intaglio, ?Roman features, Southwark priory
foreshore
SE) Rotherhithe Mayflower: historic PH, landing stages, artefact scatters
NE) Shadwell: rudders
NW) Syon Reach / Brentford: antiquarian finds, Wheeler excavations, boats,
jetty, mid Saxon fish trap, moulded stone scatter
NW) Strand on the Green: historic PHs, riverside village and landing stairs,
brewing
NE) Aldermans Stairs: causeway, log drain, wharves, crane bases
Deptford Creek
Barking Creek
Great Eastern site
Bankside
Nathalie Cohen
March 2008