T H A M E S V A L L E Y S E R V I C E S. Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, Clapton, London Borough of Waltham Forest. An Archaeological Evaluation

Transcription

1 T H A M E S V A L L E Y ARCHAEOLOGICAL S E R V I C E S Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, Clapton, London Borough of Waltham Forest An Archaeological Evaluation by Andy Weale Site Code: EXW08 (TQ )

2 Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, Clapton, London Borough of Waltham Forest An Archaeological Evaluation for Mr Alan Cole by Andrew Weale Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code EXW08 January 2008

3 Summary Site name: Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, Clapton, London Borough of Waltham Forest Grid reference: TQ Site activity: Archaeological evaluation Date and duration of project: 10th-21st January 2008 Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Andrew Weale Site code: EXW08 Area of site: 0.6ha Summary of results: Made ground of 19th or 20th century date extended across the site to a depth of between 1.10 and 1.45m. Beneath the made ground was a sequence of undated alluvial deposits. A pile-driven post was recovered from trench 1 within the alluvial deposits but is undated. Cut in to the underlying natural gravels in trench 3 was an undated channel which was sealed by alluvial deposits. The site appears to have little archaeological potential Monuments identified: None Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at the Museum of London in due course. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford Steve Preston i Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, De Beauvoir Road, Reading RG1 5NR Tel. (0118) ; Fax (0118) ; tvas@tvas.co.uk; website :

4 Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, Clapton, London Borough of Waltham Forest An Archaeological Evaluation by Andrew Weale Report 07/80b Introduction This report documents the results of an archaeological field evaluation carried out Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, Clapton, London Borough of Waltham Forest (TQ ) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Kieran Rushe of Dalton Warner Davis LLP, 21 Garlick Hill, London EC4 2AU on behalf of Mr Alan Cole, Molescroft, Braughing Friars, Braughing, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG11 2NS. Planning permission is to be sought to redevelop the site as a residential apartment development with underground parking. Detailed proposal have yet to be drawn up and it is intended that the results of the archaeological evaluation of the site will inform the nature of the scheme to be proposed. The archaeological evaluation will also accompany any planning application so as to provide information on which the Borough s archaeological advisers may base recommendations for the site. This is in accordance with the Department of the Environment s Planning Policy Guidance, Archaeology and Planning (PPG ), and the Borough Council s policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Mr David Divers of Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service, advisers to the Borough Council in archaeological matters. The fieldwork was undertaken by Andrew Weale, James Earley, Ceri Falys and Jason Stuart between 10th and 21st January 2008 and the site code is EXW08. The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at the Museum of London in due course. The site lies within an archaeological priority zone and an archaeological desk desk-based assessment for the site was undertaken (Preston 2007) which is summarized below. Location, topography and geology The site is located in a bend of the River Lea, with Clapton to the west, Walthamstow to the north-east, Walthamstow Marshes to the north and Hackney Marshes to the south-east, (Fig. 1). The site is bounded to the north and west by the River Lea, the south by The Lea Bridge and Lea Bridge Road and the east by an access road which formed the historic boundary between Hackney and Waltham Forest (Fig. 2). The site is predominantly flat and currently consists of containerized storage facilities, a standing warehouse and a mixture 1

5 of cobbled, concrete and Tarmac surfaces. The site is on the Lea floodplain which according to the British Geological survey is located on alluvium over London Clay (BGS 1994), however in this investigation, gravel was encountered beneath the alluvium. The site is at an elevation of approximately 7m above Ordnance Datum. Archaeological background The archaeological potential of the site has been highlighted by a desk-based assessment (Preston 2007). In summary the site lies in an area of potential archaeological interest on the margins of the River Lea. This topographic location is thought to have been favoured for early occupation sites, and a variety of prehistoric and later sites have been found in similar settings elsewhere in the valley. A variety of sites and finds from prehistoric to post-medieval have been recorded in the environs of the site. A bridge over the Lea in the area of the site has been documented since medieval times, but was replaced by two ferries when it fell in to disrepair. The site of the current bridge dates from the Lea Bridge Turnpike Road Act of It is thought that an earlier ford may have existed in the area before the medieval bridge and it may also be the site of a Roman river crossing (Margary 1955, 215). Given the history of flooding in the area, it must be considered that waterlogged deposits might be present. The site was extensively developed in the 19th and 20th centuries and may have been built up before development took place to raise it above the flood threat. It is not clear if any potential archaeological levels need have been extensively disturbed or truncated even though the site was almost fully built over. Objectives and methodology The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the presence/absence, extent, condition, character, quality and date of any archaeological deposits within the area of development. The specific research aims of the project are: To determine if archaeological relevant levels have survived on the site given that parts of the site have been previously developed; To determine if archaeological deposits of any period are present; To determine the palaeoenvironmental potential of the site. Five trenches trenches were proposed. They were to be 15m long and at least 1.8m wide but to be widened and stepped at the top as site constraints permitted, to prevent collapse and allow safe access where necessary. 2

6 Results The five trenches were excavated by a 360 type machine (Fig. 3). The locations of the trenches were slightly changed from those proposed due to the need for access to the storage containers on site and the need to keep roadways clear for traffic. Due to the limited area available for each trench and spoil storage each trench was excavated and backfilled before the next was started. Cobbles, concrete and compacted made ground were removed by breaker and toothed bucket. A toothless bucket was employed to remove more archaeologically sensitive levels. Machining was conduced under archaeological supervision at all times. Due to the lack of space between the storage containers the trenches could not be stepped. Two trenches (2 and 4) were shortened to maintain vehicle access around the site. Mr David Divers of English Heritage was consulted on all aspects of the evaluation and kept informed of any changes. Spoil heaps were monitored for finds. A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is given in Appendix 1. Trench 1 Trench 1 was 15m long and 2.5m wide, aligned NW SE. The southern 3m of the trench contained a series of electricity and alarm cables and was not excavated; the middle of the trench was subject to flooding beyond the capacity to pump and was not dug below 2.6m. The observed stratigraphy (Fig. 4) comprised 0.25m of concrete yard surface (73), above modern made ground (74) 0.55m thick. This uppermost made ground was a mixture of yellowish grey silt clay with frequent brick, tile, concrete and metal fragments with plastic, 19th- to 20th-century pottery and glass (not retained). Beneath deposit 74 was a rubbish dump layer (75) of loose black gritty sandy silt up to 0.20m thick, which contained frequent 19th- to 20th-century pottery, glazed ink bottles, blue, green and clear glass bottles together with iron, tin and brass metal fragments (not retained), At the base of this layer at 3.5m from the southern end of the trench a fast steady flow of water inundated the trench causing collapse of the sections and subsequently had to be abandoned. Below dump 75 was a 1m-thick alluvial deposit of firm mid bluish grey silty clay with very occasional small gravel (76). Beneath deposit 76 was a second deposit of alluvium, 77, 1.5m thick, comprising firm greyish brown silty clay with occasional sand and small gravel. Within deposit 77 but sealed by it was a large wooden timber pile, which continued though deposit 77 and into deposit 78 below. The timber has been retained. Below 77 was another alluvial deposit (78) from m. Deposit 78 was firm mid bluish grey silty clay with occasional lens of course sand and small gravel. Beneath deposit 78 was natural gravel (79) from m, 3

7 formed of large rounded stones within greyish sand. No artefacts except the timber were recovered from the alluvial layers or the gravel. Trench 2 Trench 2 was 12m long and 2.0m wide aligned NW SE, and excavated to 4.90m deep. The presence of live electricity cables, alarm cables and the storage of spoil necessitated the excavation of Trench 2 in two halves. The northern half was excavated first, and backfilled before the southern half was excavated. The observed stratigraphy (Fig. 4) was 0.55m of made ground (80), a mixture of mid greyish brown silt with frequent brick, tile, concrete, glass, plastic, slate and metal fragments, above 0.35m of concrete floor slab (81) which extended the whole length of the trench. Beneath the slab was 0.55m of made ground (82), a mixture of brick rubble, tile, glass, fragments of cast iron drain pipes. Beneath this was 1.65m of alluvial deposit, a firm dark bluish grey silty clay (83). Below 83, from 3.10m to 3.90m, deposit 84 was sticky blackish grey silty clay with a moderate organic content and was malodorous, which again appears to be an alluvial deposit. Beneath deposit 84, alluvial deposit 85 was 0.60m depth of a firm mid bluish grey silty clay with occasional small gravel. Beneath 85 was deposit 86, 0.20m deep, a loose mid grey coarse sand with occasional small gravel and clay fragments, which appears to be a flood deposit, and which overlay natural gravel, as in Trench 1. No artefacts were recovered from the alluvial layers or gravel. Trench 3 (Plate 1) Trench 3 was 15m long and 2.0m wide, aligned west east. The observed stratigraphy (Fig. 4) was m of granite cobbles and concrete (58) above 0.35m of loose black gritty sandy silt (59) which contained frequent 19th- and 20th-century pottery, glazed ink bottles, blue, green and clear glass bottles together with iron, tin and brass metal fragments and a brass kettle (not retained). Deposit 59 appeared similar to rubbish dump layer deposit 75 in Trench 1. Beneath 59 was 0.40m of made ground composed of mixed yellowish grey silty clay (60) with moderate brick and tile fragments (not retained). Beneath made ground 60 was another made ground or levelling deposit (61), 0.70m deep, of sticky blackish red silty clay frequent crushed ceramic building material fragments. Beneath deposit 61 was 1.50m of firm bluish grey silty clay (alluvium) 62, which sealed palaeochannel 1. Channel 1 was 4.20m wide and 1.70m deep with gently sloping sides and a flat base, it extended east west across the trench and cut the natural gravel. It was filled with firm brownish grey silty clay (64) with moderate gravel and organic matter, mostly medium to large branches and small twigs, with no artefacts. 4

8 Trench 4 Trench 4 was 13.5m long and 2.0m wide, aligned roughly south north and taken to 5.00m deep (Fig. 5). The trench was shortened due to the presence of live electricity and alarm cables at the northern end and the need to keep access for vehicles at the southern end. At the southern end, a large concrete water filled tank was exposed extending 6.5m from the end of the trench and over 3.5m deep. This part of the trench was not further excavated. The observed stratigraphy in the rest of the trench was 0.45m of granite cobbles and concrete surfaces (65) above 0.55m of made ground, 66, a mixture of black sandy silt with frequent brick, tile, glass, metal, slate and coal (not retained). Beneath 66 was a 2.20m thickness of alluvium (67) comprising firm bluish grey silty clay with very occasional small gravel and small lens of grey course sand. This lay above 0.90m of firm greyish brown silty clay (68) with very occasional branches and twigs, which seems to be another alluvial deposit. Beneath deposit 68 was another alluvial deposit 69, identical to deposit 84 in Trench 2, here 0.40m thick. Beneath deposit 69 was alluvial deposit 70 from m, a firm bluish grey silty clay with very occasional small gravel and small lens of grey course sand, which overlay natural gravel. No artefacts were recovered from the alluvial layers or gravel. Trench 5 (Plate 2) Trench 5 was 15.0m long and varied from m wide due to collapse of the trench section. It was 4.45m deep, aligned SW NE. The observed stratigraphy (Fig. 5) was 0.35m of granite cobbles and concrete surfaces (50) above 0.25m of rubbish dump layer 51, similar to deposit 75 in Trench 1, a loose black gritty sandy silt which contained frequent 19th- and 20th-century pottery, glazed ink bottles, glass bottles together with iron and tin metal fragments (not retained). Beneath deposit 51 were further made ground layers 52 (0.22m thick), 53 (0.32m) and 54 (0.36m thick). Deposit 52 was made up from crushed and broken brick with occasional 19th- and 20th-century pottery (not retained). Deposit 53 was a lose black gritty sandy silt which contained frequent 19th- and 20th-century pottery, glazed brick, tile, glazed ink bottles, glass bottles together with iron metal fragments (not retained). Deposit 54 was firm brownish grey silty clay with moderate brick and tile and moderate small gravel. Beneath the made ground was alluvial deposit 55 from m, comprising firm bluish grey silty clay with very occasional small gravel and small lens of grey course sand, then alluvial deposit 56 from m, a firm greyish brown silty clay with moderate, large lenses of course grey sand and small gravel small gravel, which overlay natural gravel. No artefacts were recovered from the alluvium or the gravel. 5

9 Finds Wood by Andrew Weale One worked timber was recovered from context 77. The timber is in overall good condition. It is 1.66m long with a maximum diameter of 0.20m. It was curved slightly from true from 0.67m from the top. There was an area of decay at the top end and an area of possible working from 0.48m to 0.74m from the top, but this area also showed decay. This area may be an area of wear rather than a joint. The timber was in the form of a rounded tree with the bark stripped or cut off with tools marks still evident. From 1.00m from the top, it had been tapered to a point and showed axe or adze marks. The last 0.05m of the timber was decayed and the point was bent over. No other finds were retained from the layers of made ground. Conclusion The site is covered in layers of made ground and relatively recent dumps, 1.10m to 1.45m thick. All these layers appeared to be of 19th-century or later date. Beneath these layers of made ground is a sequence of alluvial deposits up to 3.50m thick. No features were noted that cut though these alluvial deposits. Within the alluvial deposits, lenses of coarse sand and gravel were observed which may indicate periods of flooding. In Trench 1 a wooden pile-driven post was noted within the alluvial deposits but no dating evidence was recovered with the post. It is not known if this post was in isolation or formed part of a larger structure which extended outside the area of the trench. In Trench 3 a channel was observed that cut though the underlying gravel. This channel could not be dated and was sealed by alluvium above. The presence of the well-preserved timber in Trench 1 and branches within the alluvium would indicate that any wooden structure within the alluvium would potentially be well preserved, such as an earlier river crossing by bridge or ferry but no such structure was observed within the trenches. The whole site appears to have been in a waterlogged environment and periodically flooded until very recently when the site was built up above the local flood plain by the addition of the dumps and made ground. The lack of space within the site meant that the trenches could not be stepped and consequently no trench could be entered after it had reached a depth of 1.6m. Subsequently each trench was stripped in shallow spits, which would have shown up any cut feature within the alluvium if they had been present. The site appears to have little archaeological potential. 6

10 References BGS, 1994, British Geological Survey, 1:50000, Sheet 256, Solid and Drift Geology Edition, Keyworth Margary, I D, 1955, Roman roads in Britain, London Preston, S, 2007, Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, Clapton, London Borough of Waltham Forest: an archaeological desk-based assessment, Thames Valley Archaeological Services report 07/80 PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO 7

11 APPENDIX 1: Trench details 0m at south or west end Trench Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment Layers of made ground, rubbish dumps and alluvium (73-78). Pile driven timber post within Alluvial layer 77. Natural gravels (79) consisting of large rounded pebbles and small rounded pebbles with coarse sand at 1.49m AOD Layers of made ground and alluvium (80-86). Natural gravels (87) at 2.47m AOD Layers of made ground, rubbish dumps and alluvium (58-62). Paleochannel [1]. Natural gravels (63) at 1.34m AOD. [Pl. 1] Layers of made ground and alluvium (65-70). Natural gravels (71) at 1.55m AOD Layers of made ground, rubbish dumps and alluvium (50-56). Natural gravels (57) at 2.35m AOD [Pl. 2] 8

12 APPENDIX 2: Feature details Trench Cut Fill (s) Type Date Dating evidence Channel unknown none 1 77 Pile driven post unknown none 9

13 88000 SITE SITE TQ Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, London Borough of Waltham Forest, 2008 Archaeological Evaluation EXW 08 Figure 1. Location of site within Lea Bridge and Greater London. Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Explorer 173 at 1:12500 Crown copyright reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence

14 N SITE TQ Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, London Borough of Waltham Forest, 2008 Archaeological Evaluation EXW 08 Figure 2. Detailed location of site on Lea Bridge Road. Scale 1:1250

15 N Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, London Borough of Waltham Forest, 2008 Lea Valley Ice Centre SITE wooden post 2 Essex Wharf palaeochannel, 1 River Lea or Lee Lea Bridge Road (A104) TQ m Figure 3. Location of trenches. EXW 08

16 NW Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, London Borough of Waltham Forest, 2008 Trench SE 6.09mAOD NW Trench SE 7.05m Natural gravel W Trench 3 E 6.34m Natural gravel 0 5m Figure 4. Representative trench section EXW 08

17 Essex Wharf, Lea Bridge Road, London Borough of Waltham Forest, 2008 NNE Trench 4 65 SSW 6.55m SW Trench NE 6.65m Natural gravel Natural gravel 0 5m Figure 5. Representative trench sections EXW 08

18 Plate 1. Trench 3, looking west, scales 2m. Plate 2. Trench 5, looking north-east. EXH 08