Gambia Street, London Borough of Southwark
Gambia Street, London Borough of Southwark
Gambia Street, London Borough of Southwark
Ref: 54668.01
November 2003
LAND AT GAMBIA STREET, LONDON SE1
LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK
Prepared on behalf of
Environ UK Ltd
5 Stratford Place
London
W1C 1AU
by
Wessex Archaeology in London
Unit 701
The Chandlery
50 Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7QY
November 2003
CONTENTS
Executive summary
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................ V
1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................1
1.1 Project background....................................................................................1
1.2 Site description, topography and geology ................................................1
1.3 Planning background.................................................................................1
1.4 Methodology ...............................................................................................3
2 RESULTS.............................................................................................................4
2.1 Introduction................................................................................................4
2.2 Palaeolithic (c. 500,000 – 10,000 BC)........................................................4
2.3 Mesolithic (c. 8,500 – 4,000 BC)................................................................4
2.4 Neolithic (c. 4,000 – 2,400 BC) ..................................................................4
2.5 Bronze Age (c. 2,400 – 700 BC).................................................................4
2.6 Iron Age (c. 700 BC – AD 43)....................................................................4
2.7 Romano-British (AD 43 – 410)..................................................................4
2.8 Saxon and Medieval (AD 410 – 1499).......................................................5
2.9 Post-Medieval and Modern (AD 1500 – present)....................................5
2.10 Undated Activities ......................................................................................7
3 DISCUSSION.......................................................................................................7
3.1 Archaeological potential and significance................................................7
3.2 Archaeological remains .............................................................................8
3.3 Existing impacts .........................................................................................8
3.4 Potential scheme impacts...........................................................................9
3.5 Conclusions .................................................................................................9
4 BIBLIOGRAPHY..............................................................................................10
i
Figure List
ii
LAND AT GAMBIA STREET
LONDON SE1
LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The study consulted the Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service Sites and
Monument Record covering a 250 metre radius of the Site, the National Monuments
Record for the Listing of buildings on the site as well as other documentary and
cartographic sources. It recorded a number of archaeological finds within the Site
boundary.
The Site is located between two crossing railway viaducts and two roads, with the
Jubilee Line beneath. It has had both residential and commercial properties on the
area and the street names have been changed from the original Charlotte Street (now
Union Street) and William Street (now Gambia Street). Prior to the roads being in
place (before the late 18th century) the area was used as tenter grounds and gardens or
cultivated orchards. Finds from the Roman period are selective with pottery from the
site having been recovered from the near vicinity. Prehistoric mud flats have been
found and peat dating to the Bronze Age, but no evidence has been found for
accurately dated finds prior to that period.
iii
application through the requirement for predetermination archaeological evaluation
supported by geotechnical analysis.
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This report was commissioned by Environ UK Ltd. Wessex Archaeology would like
to thank Barry Taylor of the Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service and the
staff of the London Borough of Southwark Local Studies Library and at the London
Metropolitan Archive and National Monuments Record in London
Lawrence Pontin managed this project for Wessex Archaeology and Mark Roughley
produced the illustrations.
v
LAND AT GAMBIA STREET
LONDON SE1
LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1.2 The Site covers an area of c. 0.14 hectares, centred on Ordnance Survey
National Grid Reference 531775 180050 (Figure 1).
1.1.3 The aim of the study is to collate the known archaeological and historical
information about the Site in the context of its surrounding area, and to
assess on the basis of that information and past impacts on the Site, the
potential for undiscovered archaeological remains.
1.1.4 The study also aims to assess possible impacts on any archaeological
resource likely to be caused by a developemnt scheme and to suggest
appropriate strategies to mitigate those impacts.
1.2.1 A brownfield site that fronts onto Union Street to the south and Gambia
Street to the west. It abuts two elevated railways which run to the north and
east of the site, it extends beneath the railway in the north-east corner of the
site.
1.2.2 The site has been vacant since 1990 and most recently has been used as a
working site for the Jubilee Line Extension Programme. A ventilation shaft
for the Jubilee Line is positioned on the northern part of the Site.
1.2.3 Present made ground at the Site overlies a mixture of redeposited Thames
Terrace Gravels interleaved with Holocene alluvial deposits given its original
proximity to the River Thames. These deposits will have been built up since
the end of the last ice age and in turn overlie London Clay.
1.3.1 The following sections summarise the statutes, guidance and policies that
may be relevant to archaeological heritage considerations for this
development.
1
Statutory designations
1.3.2 There are two principal statutes which are of relevant consideration:
1.3.4 Listed Buildings - (Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings and
Conservation Areas) Act 1991)
1.3.5 There are no Scheduled Monuments within the sites boundaries though the
potential importance of the probable deposits could warrant them being
considered as being worthy of preservation in situ under PPG 16 using the
same criteria as equivalent Scheduled Monuments.
National guidance
1.3.6 National guidance on archaeological heritage and development is contained
in the DOE’s Planning Policy Guidance notes series of which the following
two are most relevant:
1.3.7 Planning Policy Guidance: Archaeology and Planning (PPG16) DoE Nov
1990
1.3.8 Planning Policy Guidance: Planning and the Historic Environment (PPG15)
DoE Nov 1990
2
achieved by redesigning the proposed development and by
foundation modification;
Reasons
1.3.10 The Site is not within an Archaeological Priority Zone stated in the UDP.
1.4 Methodology
1.4.1 In order to study the Site within the wider context of the River Thames and
adjacent archaeological sites, a Study Area with a 250 metre radius around
the Site was examined.
1.4.2 Research for this report was undertaken between 14th October and the 21st
October 2003, and the following sources of information were consulted:
3
x The National Monuments Record in London for Listed Building
information.
x Relevant sites and findspots referred to in the text, including the SMR
entries, have been re-ordered and re-numbered with a site-specific
Wessex Archaeology (WA) numeration. These are shown in Figure 1,
and listed in Appendix 1.
2 RESULTS
2.1 Introduction
2.1.1 There are known archaeological sites and findspots from within the
boundaries of the Site itself. The following findings from the wider Study
Area are presented chronologically. All sites and finds are shown in appendix
1.
2.2.1 There are no recorded Palaeolithic finds from within the Study Area.
2.3.1 There are no recorded Mesolithic finds from within the Study Area.
2.4.1 There are no recorded Neolithic finds from within the Study Area.
2.5.1 An excavation (Site code UNS91) on the Site in 1991 revealed a peat deposit
(WA01) that was dated to the Bronze Age and represents the Tilbury IV
regression.
2.5.2 To the south-east of the Site an excavation (SLAEC 1975) revealed water-
lain clays indicative of mudflats (WA02), these were of prehistoric date but a
more precise date cannot be ascertained.
2.6.1 There is no evidence for any form of Iron Age activity from the Study Area.
2.7.1 There is no evidence for major settlement in the immediate area during the
Romano-British period, though it has been postulated that the Romans forded
the Thames between the modern site of Lambeth Palace to the north and
Thorney Island now occupied by the Houses of Parliament to the west.
4
2.7.2 On the Site, a water channel (WA03) filled with Roman pottery was
excavated and above this a peat horizon (WA04) was also dated to this
period. In Union Street during the 19th century a glass cinerary urn with lid
and burnt bones were recovered (WA05), also some glass ungent vessels
(WA06) and other vessels (WA07) including a strange measuring pot/water
pot. It is not certain whether these were found near to one another with the
provenance being a generalised Union Street.
2.7.3 To the north of the Site, two other finds from this date were recorded.
Fragments of Castor ware (WA08) were recovered from Bear Lane and
during excavations in Lavington Street, a flagon (WA09) dated to between
AD 70 and 120 was recovered but from a 17th century dump layer.
2.8.1 The only physical evidence for the Anglo-Saxon period in the Study Area
comes from Borough High Street where ‘some’ coins were found. It is
infered that Ethelred II had a mint in Southwark (WA10) and probably held
it as a defensible house (VCH, p126).
2.8.2 An early reference for Southwark can be found in the Domesday Book, it
states that a ‘monesterium’ existed in ‘Sudwerce’ which is thought to be the
site of Southwark Cathedral (WA11).
2.8.3 To the north a reference was made to the South Bank as ‘The Banke’ which
ran along between parallel water courses (WA12). The only other find from
the medieval period was the bar and pendant frames of a purse with incised
mounts and ‘ICH’ inscribed on the central boss (WA13) which was found in
Blackfriars Road.
2.8.4 An excavation in 1991 shows that there are a series of ploughsoils, reflecting
an arable use for the Site from this period through to the 18th century
(MoLAS 2000 p77).
2.9.1 There is little evidence for early Post-medieval activities with ‘occasional
finds’ (WA14) of 16th century date being recovered from the Site during
excavations in 1991.
2.9.2 From the early 1690’s, the area around Great Suffolk Street was the site of a
stoneware and tin glaze pottery (WA15) which existed until after 1750. In
Lavington Street a dump of stoneware and tin glazed pottery (WA16) was
recovered and appears to relate to the pottery. Also at 25 Lavington Street, a
17th century dump of pottery (WA17) with the Roman flagon (WA09) was
recovered and is also probably related.
2.9.3 Rocque’s map of 1744 (Fig.2) shows the area occupied by tenter grounds
(grounds for laying out cloth and rope during manufacture) with plots of
gardens or cultivated orchards depicted. On the map of 1760 Union Street
5
(originally Charlotte Street) is dotted on the map running west from Duke
Street (now Union Street continuing to the east).
2.9.4 On the 1753 map (not illustrated) of the area around St George’s Fields (not
illustrated) a windmill or postmill (WA19) is shown, but does not appear on
later maps and no details exist of what was being produced there. The Site on
this map shows it to be clear land.
2.9.5 The excavation (MoLAS 2000) shows that the area had been levelled with
buildings which fronted both Union and William Street which date to the
middle 1700’s.
2.9.6 The site of the burial ground of St Saviours Parish (WA20) was consecrated
in 1780. The area of Great Suffolk Street and Southwark Bridge Road which
was formerly Finchs Grotto Garden, a pleasure garden c.1760 was possibly
destroyed to make way for Southwark Bridge Road.
2.9.7 To the west of the Site is the position of the Evangelestic Surrey Chapel, an
independent circular chapel which was opened in 1783. The last worship
took place in 1876 and the new Christ Church (WA18) was opened as a
relacement in Westminster Bridge Road the same year.
2.9.8 The almshouses (WA22) which had originally stood at the junction of
Borough Road and Borough High Street in 1642 were rebuilt in Glasshill
Street (formerly Hill Street) to the south of the Site in 1820 next to the
Rowland Hill Almshouses.
2.9.9 On Horwood’s map of 1792-9 (not illustrated), Charlotte Street (now Union
Street) and William Street (now Gambia Street) are shown for the first time.
Residential buildings are on the frontage of William Street with
block/commercial onto Charlotte Street and a commercial building running
east to west through the centre of the land. The 1821 Gardner map (Fig.3)
shows Little Charlotte Street and William Street with a hat manufacturer on
the land.
2.9.10 To the west of the Study Area in Joan Street, evidence for the 18th and 19th
centuries was recorded during an excavation (Site code JOA91)with dumping
layers (WA21), a well dated to the 19th century (WA24) and a mid 19th
century wall foundation (WA25).
2.9.11 The Post Office Directory Map of 1854 (not illustrated) shows the intended
route of the Charing Cross Line to the north of the site, with the 1866 map
(Fig.4) showing the London, Chatham and Dover railway outlined. . The 1st
Edition OS map of 1872 (Fig.5) shows a building on the site which is
possibly commercial.
2.9.12 The Goad Fire Insurance Plan of 1889 (Fig.6) shows the area with residential
buildings onto the roads and industrial buildings sandwiched with the
viaducts to the north and east. Before 1893 (2nd edition OS, Fig.7) William
Street is changed to Gambia Street with Charlotte Street changing to Union
Street by 1914 (3rd Edition OS, Fig.8).
6
2.9.13 To the east of the Study Area in Ewer Street was the site of the Quaker
Burial Ground (WA23), this was destroyed during the 19th century to make
way for the railway.
2.9.14 The production of clay pipes is evident in Union Street (WA27) with the
recording of pipes and strips of clay and a piece of muffle recorded during a
watching brief (Site code 154US82) at number 154. At 206 Union Street
(Site code UNS91), small walls (WA26) were found dating to the 19th
Century.
2.9.15 Further along Union Road at 235-241, late Post-medieval burnt deposits and
possibly thick flooring (WA28) were found (Site code 235US80) though no
other evidence was retrieved due to the area having been cellared out.
2.9.16 In 1910 the site of the Surrey Chapel was turned into a boxing ring, the
Bomb Map of the 1940’s (not illustrated) shows a V1 hit ‘The Ring’ with the
surrounding buildings having been destroyed and minor blast damage
occuring to the Site.
2.9.17 The 1933-9 map (Fig.9) shows the building on the Site to be a bakery, this
being held by the wholesale company of Spicers paper and Stationers on the
1950 Goad Fire Insurance Plan (Fig.10) and in 1951 (not illustrated) as a
printing works.
2.9.18 On the northern side of the Site, a large (15m wide) stepped trench was
excavated and the deposits recorded for the construction of a ventilation shaft
for the Jubilee Line which runs beneath the Site.
2.10.1 During the excavation of 206 Union Street (Site code UNS91), a ditch
(WA29) of unknown date was found truncating the Bronze Age peat deposit
(WA01).
2.10.2 To the west at Joan Street (Site code JOA91) below the 18th and 19th century
dumped layers (WA21) were a sequence of peats and clays (WA30) which
were archaeologically sterile.
3 DISCUSSION
3.1.1 Evidence for Prehistoric activity is fairly minimal with no recorded finds
prior to the Bronze Age in this area. A sequence of peat deposits were
recorded from the Bronze Age on the site and a ditch truncating the peat was
recorded, but is of an unknown date. No evidence for the Iron Age is
recorded.
7
3.1.3 The geotechnical report shows that the interface of the sand and gravel with
the London clay is consistent across the site with a deep pocket of peat which
goes to a depth of 7.8m in the south-eastern area. The madeground extends to
a depth of up to 3.8m.
3.1.4 The archaeological potential within the Site may be summarised as follows:
x There is a Low potential for Iron Age material given the paucity of
finds in the area.
3.2.1 Any archaeological remains within the Site could take one of several forms:
3.3.1 Recent/Modern activity on the Site, most notably the ground work and
construction of the ventilation shaft on the north side of the site is likely to
have resulted in the degradation of the Site’s archaeological potential.
8
3.4 Potential scheme impacts
3.4.1 The potential scheme for the Site is for the construction of a predominantly
residential building with apartments and live/work units. The development
would consist of 27 floors with a single basement for parking.
3.5 Conclusions
3.5.1 The potential scheme will remove any archaeology on the Site due to the
construction of a basement carpark.
3.5.2 Given the high level of archaeological potential and the qualified extent of
the future impacts on that potential, it is considered reasonable that detailed
archaeological intervention would be dealt with by condition of a planning
approval (Sarah Gibson, London Borough of Southwark Archaeology
Planning Officer pers comm).
9
4 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Aksits. September 1988, Report on site investigation for New Office Development at
202/206 Union Street London SE1 (Ref. 885114)
10
APPENDIX 1
Gazetteer of Sites referred to in the text
11
APPENDIX 2
CARTOGRAPHIC SOURCES
12
Fig. 2 - Rocque's Plan, 1744-6
This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction.
Approximate
area of site
Date: 03/11/03 Revision Number: 0
Figures 2 & 3
Fig. 4 - Plan of Freehold Land & Buildings in Charlotte Street 1866
This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction.
Approximate
area of site
Date: 03/11/03 Revision Number: 0
Figures 4 & 5
Fig. 6 - Goad Fire Insurance Plan No 246 of 1889
This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction.
Approximate
area of site
Date: 03/11/03 Revision Number: 0
Figures 6 & 7
Fig. 8 - 3rd Edition OS Plan of 1914
This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction.
Approximate
area of site
Date: 03/11/03 Revision Number: 0
Figures 8 & 9
This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction.
Approximate
area of site
Date: 03/11/03 Revision Number: 0