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Clients: The Corporation of London
Author: Sophie Jackson
Site supervisor: Sadie Watson
In March 2002, MoLAS undertook a series of trial excavations to confirm the method of construction, profile and depth of a backfilled pond near the 18th-century temple in Wanstead Park, London Borough of Redbridge. This work forms the latest phase in a series of restoration and estate management projects funded by the Corporation of London. Earlier phases of work in 1997 and 1998 included a major programme of excavation and investigation of structures associated with the combined grotto and boathouse and the ornamental lake.
Wanstead House was built in 1715 to a design by Colen Campbell for the first Earl Tylney, a descendent of the chairman of the East India Company. George London designed the landscape. The family fortune had been squandered by the early 19th century and the house, regarded at the time as a rival to Blenheim and Holkham Hall, was demolished. All that remains today is the park, with a series of interconnected ornamental lakes (at different levels), the grotto and temple and buried traces of the original garden features and paths.
Evaluation trenches were excavated on the site of the former pond, known to have existed until the late 19th or early 20th century. There are plans to reinstate the pond and the evaluation was undertaken to determine the original location, profile and depth of the feature. A further trench was excavated to determine the extent and nature of an underground brick structure discovered during recent groundworks on the site. The trenches excavated in the pond uncovered a brick slipway and part of the pond lining probably dating to the 18th or 19th century. The third trench revealed an 18th-century circular brick structure, probably an ice house, broadly contemporary with the nearby temple.
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Clients: Chelmsford Borough Council
Author: Sophie Jackson
Site supervisor: Nick Holder
During 2002 MoLAS designed and undertook a programme of archaeological investigation to inform the Stage 2 Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the restoration of the Humphry Repton landscape at Hylands Park.
The site, consisting of house and grounds, is in the care of Chelmsford Borough Council. The MoLAS investigations were targeted to inform the restoration plan, to assess the impact of the restoration proposals on 'pre-Hylands' archaeology and to prepare a written scheme of investigation as an archaeological response to the restoration scheme. The fieldwork included desk-based assessment, analysis of aerial photographs, geophysical surveys to identify garden features and pathways, and trial trenching to locate a 'lost' ha-ha and garden features.
The features that were found included the former road that led to Hylands House, part of Humphry Repton's original design for the park. It was concluded that the boundary of the 'Pleasure Gardens' to the north-east of the house was marked by a fence and not a ha-ha, and that the boundary line has changed over time. Some information on the layout of the gardens and outbuildings to the west of the house was also obtained.
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Clients: West Berkshire Council
Author: Sophie Jackson
Site supervisor: Stewart Hoad
In May and June 2003, MoLAS carried out an archaeological evaluation in the area of the former terrace of Shaw House, an Elizabethan Mansion in the care of West Berkshire Council. The purpose of the evaluation was to confirm whether or not garden features shown on sketches dating from the 1750s had actually been built. The work was carried out as part of the Stage 2 Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the restoration of the house and grounds. The evaluation involved the excavation of four trenches. Traces of make-up deposits for the terrace were found, together with the remains of steps up to the terrace, aligned with the front of the porch.
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Clients: English Heritage
Author: Sophie Jackson
Site supervisor: Duncan Lees
In January 2002 English Heritage commissioned MoLAS to undertake a contour survey of part of the east park and also to investigate and record a fish hatchery. The purpose of the survey was to inform the on-going conservation and management plan for the parkland. The recording of the fish hatchery was carried out using a combination of digital survey and dimensioned hand drawings, with part of the recording taking place under water.
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