Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 90: summary

Watching brief report: Old scrap yard, High Street, Rowhedge
by Orr, K

Date report completed: 06/09/2000
Location: Rowhedge, Colchester, Essex
Map reference(s): TM03152180
File size: 6817 kb
Project type: Watching brief
Significance of the results: Neg
Keywords:

Summary. The site, bordered to the east by the River Colne and to the west by the High Street. There was no watching brief condition on the current phase of the work because ground contamination caused by the scrapyard was thought to present too much of a danger. However, CAT received a call from a member of the public who had observed large timbers, which could have been part of a medieval quay, being removed from black mud below the present quay level. Approximately ten timbers had been found positioned upright in the mud below high tide level. They were 4m in length with square edges and pointed bases; some had iron reinforcements to aid driving in and nails still remaining. One of the iron nails was retrieved and later discarded: it appeared to have been cast rather than wrought. It was not thought necessary to remove any of the timbers for dating purposes as they appeared to be modern.