I O Group, Phase 4 (Zones 21 and 23), The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, SE18
TQ 4435 7915; (Chris Mayo); evaluation; 18 October - 21 December 2004; IO Group Ltd; RYW 04
Natural alluvial clay, sand, gravel and peat deposits were recorded in all trenches. Deposits of made ground overlain the natural sequence. Deposits of reworked alluvial clay in the centre of the site, part of the made ground, revealed two 18th century cannon in very good condition. It is likely that both were brought to the Royal Arsenal for proofing, had failed, and then been recycled as mooring posts. Within the made ground sequence recorded on the north side of the site, layers of wood shavings and bark may be evidence for its use as a Timber Field, for seasoning, in the middle of the 19th century.
At the north end of the site remains were found of the 1870s Boiler House that powered a steam hammer, the anvil of which was found in the Phase 2 works. They were exposed over a wide area, and consisted of brick flues and boiler base supports founded on timber piles.
To the east of the Boiler House, contemporary remains of a Rolling Mill were found, including brick-built furnaces and a chimney base. Evidence was seen for the remodelling of the Rolling Mill, reflecting advances in manufacturing technology. These modifications included a substantial cast iron stepped quenching tank, a small hammer base, and a different style of furnace. The latter had a square iron skeleton clad in brickwork, as opposed to the simply brick built linear ones also found.
The superstructure of the Rolling Mill was recognised in a number of stanchion bases on timber piles.
Substantial structural remains of the South Boring Mill were found in the eastern-centre of the site. These included timber and concrete piles, numerous cast iron lathe bed supports, machine bases, stanchion bases for roof supports and internal slabs. While the remains were consistent with those found of the South Boring Mill in Phase 2 (RYR 03), it was
noticeable that the actual lathe beds had been removed for the installation of the ground slab, from the level of which the watching brief started. This shows the change of function of this part of the South Boring Mill, probably following WWII.
Only two lathe beds were found to survive below ground level. Contemporary with these remains were a range of bogie tracks and cobbled surfaces, close to modern ground level, which were exterior to the mill. These external elements had been superseded by the 20th century reworking of Street No 10, one of the main thoroughfares of the Royal Arsenal, the remains of which were seen across the site.
A series of concrete piles were found on the south side of the site, all from a post-WWII structure. These had been truncated in the 1980s by a process of remediation on the Pilkington Canal, which had removed any remains in line with the canal's position to a depth of
approximately 3.0m. Remains were found of Building C47, consisting of concrete footings and slabs, and timber piles. To the south of this structure the extent of the canal remediation was seen, as it followed the canal's route east out of the site. The position of the Boiler House was used for the construction of a petrol station in the 20th century. Structural remains of this included concrete tank holders and a set of iron stanchion bases.
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