Merton Abbey, Merton (MMY99)

Clients: Copthorn Homes/Laing O’Rourke plc

Authors: David Saxby and Derek Seeley

Site supervisor: Richard Hewett

In MoLAS 2003 we reported on archaeological findings at Bennett's Mill and Merton Abbey as part of the major redevelopment of the Merton Abbey Mills site This year, during the latest phase of work, an archaeological watching brief was carried out during pile probing of new residential blocks B, C and D. The area had previously been assessed by a series of evaluation trenches which identified some areas of archaeological significance, including a 12th- to 13th-century monastic mill, and the walls of a number of ancillary monastic buildings associated with the Augustinian priory.

The watching brief was carried out in order to permit preservation in situ of any significant archaeological remains. This was achieved by moving any conflicting pile positions to areas of less significant archaeology. During the course of the watching brief a number of medieval walls and structures were identified, the most significant of which were the flint and chalk pier bases to a bridge. Associated with the pier bases were large oak base-plates used to hold the bridge superstructure.

See also this report on the family festival held at the site during July; and this report for how successful cooperation between the developers and the archaeologists was reported on in the media.

This site report is extracted from MoLAS 2004: annual review