thames discovery programme

Cannon Street FCY03

The zone is approximately 300m long and 25m wide; it is bounded to the E by London
Bridge and to the W by Cannon Street Railway Bridge. The access to the site is via
stone stairs to the W of Cannon Street Station. These are well maintained, with a
handrail but can become slippery at times. The ground conditions on the site are
generally firm (sands and gravels) although there are areas that can be difficult to
negotiate due to rubble consolidation. Likewise, caution is necessary as there is
frequent mudlark activity on the site.

archaeological and historical background

prehistoric
A number of prehistoric finds have been recovered from the area. Residual flints were discovered during excavations
at Regis House just to the north-east of the zone, and a Neolithic flint axe was found on Lower Thames Street.
roman
The zone lies to the south of the line of the Roman waterfront which lies roughly on Thames Street, and Roman
ceramics and metalwork have been recovered from along the City foreshore. Numerous investigations in the
immediate vicinity of the site have shown that the establishment of the Roman city in the mid-1st century AD led to
the development of a succession of waterfront structures over the course of the next two hundred years. Quayside
development was centred on the area of the Roman bridge located just downstream of its modern successor, while
excavations beneath Cannon Street Station revealed the palace of the Governor of Britain.
early medieval
From the late 4th century until c900AD there is virtually no evidence of permanent settlement within the walled city,
and waterfront sites suggest considerable silting over the latest Roman quays. After the Alfredian reoccupation of the
city from AD886, indications of activity in the area come from excavations at Regis House (where a number of sunken
feature buildings were recorded dating to the 10th and 11th centuries), along with evidence of brushwood and clay
embankments in front of the Roman city wall at Cannon Street Station. The first medieval bridge is thought to have
been constructed around AD1000, east of the current structure, primarily as a defensive feature.
later medieval
The defensive bridge was replaced in the late 12th century by a much grander masonry affair just to the west, with
buildings and a chapel, along with a drawbridge to allow vessels to pass. Excavations at Cannon Street revealed the
masonry foundations of the twelfth century Hanseatic Guildhall (later known as the Steelyard) along with a stave wall
of possibly similar date and a later medieval masonry river wall, while a thirteenth century dyehouse was recorded at
Swan Lane. Throughout this period the city was encroaching into the river as London expanded and space was at a
premium. Numerous finds dating to this period have been found along the City foreshore.
post medieval
The medieval city was largely gutted by the great Fire of London 1666 and rebuilt in brick and stone, while the
buildings on the bridge were pulled down 1758-62 to aid traffic flow and the two central arches were replaced by a
single span to aid navigation. In this guise the bridge survived until superseded by Rennies London Bridge (itself
replaced in 1974) in 1831. Encroachment into the river continued until into the 19th century, while the riverfront
became predominantly occupied by wharves and warehouses, along with a number of steamer piers for
holidaymakers. Cannon Street Rail Bridge was opened in 1866. The area was heavily bombed during WWII and this,
combined with the advent of containerisation in the 1950s and 60s, saw the replacement of wharves and
warehouses with offices and flats.

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a106
a107
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a110
a111
a112
a113
a114
a115
a116
a117
a118
a119
a120
a121
a122
a123
a124
a125
a126
a127
a128
a129

Type
Bridge
Bridge
Riverfront defence
Riverfront defence
Riverfront defence
Riverfront defence
Access
Degradation
Drain
Bargebed
Structure (unclassified)
Bargebed
Riverfront defence?
Aggradation
Access
Deposit
Riverfront defence
Drain
Access
Mooring feature?
Bargebed
Degradation
Access
Access
Artefact
Drain
Bargebed
Bargebed
Structure (unclassified)

Description
Cannon Street Railway Bridge
London Bridge
Brick river wall
Brick river wall
Brick river wall
Granite block river wall
Causeway. Concrete and timber. Several Phases. All Hallows Stair
Deposits being washed out of bargebed
Log drain. Elm?
Rubble and timber construction
Squared timber posts. Close set.
Timber and sheet piling
Close set squared timbers. Possible earlier phase of river wall
Tile and brick
Foundation for Swan Stairs. Round and square timber piles
Deposits eroding out of foreshore
Timber construction. Badly damaged
Box drain. Built into bargebed
River stair foundation. Close set piles
Re-used timber. Pegged to foreshore
Rubble, metal, timber construction. Later than A110
Deposits being washed out of bargebed
Foundation of Cousin Lane Stair
Causeway? Timbers in front of Cousin Lane Stair
Four pieces of Roman quern stone, part of causeway A124?
Concrete Apron next to Cousin Lane Stair
Timber and rubble construction. Part of A121
Timber. Predates A127, part of A121
Causeway? Horizontal timber beneath bargebed
2

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a130
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Type
Degradation
Access
Access
Wharf
Structure (unclassified)
Access
Riverfront defence
Structure (unclassified)
Structure (unclassified)
Mooring feature
Drain

Description
Deposits being washed out of bargebed
Causeway, Angel Stair
Causeway
Timber. Line of large squared piles. Steamer Pier
Stair? Brick and stone structure
Masonry causeway
Cofferdam for construction of river wall
One large and one small round timber piles
One large and two small timber piles
Two timbers joined by bolt and set in concrete
Vertical pipe with concrete base