Wanstead Flats as part of the Thames Gateway Water Treatment
Plant Distribution Pipeline TQ 3996 8705, TQ 4520 8192 and TQ 3905
9019 PCA Ltd (Rebecca Lythe and Graeme McArthur) evaluation and
watching brief May-July 2008 Thames Water TWT08
The evaluation was located in the NW corner of Wanstead Flats,
where two trenches were excavated to the N and to the S of a public
footpath known as ‘The Avenue’. It revealed Taplow Terrace
gravels sealed by weathered subsoil, which in turn was cut by an
undated linear feature and two large 19th/20th c circular features,
possibly representing gravel extraction pits or ponds. Modern topsoil
sealed the subsoil and features. The watching brief on the excavation
of the pipeline recorded varying natural deposits below modern made
ground. Along the River Roding, layers of alluvial sand and clay
overlying gravel were observed and interpreted as alluvial deposits
associated with the river valley. To the W, in the Wanstead Flats
area, gravels and sands part of the Taplow Terrace sequence, dating
to the Anglian and Devensian period were recorded. To the N, in
the Epping Forest area, similar sands and gravels were recorded
though they were possibly part of the Boyn Hill Terrace sequence,
contemporary with the Taplow Terrace gravels. |
