Archaeology Review - Spring 2006

The development site adjacent to No. 7 Pier Road was continuously monitored by an informal "watching brief" while piling and "open cast" excavation took place. Areas of historic activity were identified as coal storage and basket storage, one area of brick paving was recognised. Few significant finds were made but there is enough pottery and other 18th and 19th century material to keep the Section busy on Thursday evenings for some time. About 30 metres seaward of the boundary of No. 7 Pier Road the excavator recovered a small cannon from among a martrix of granite rubble infill. It was taken to the JHT conservation laboratory and identified as a 3 foot two pound English gun. It was neither Royal Naval nor British Army design but may hae been decommissioned from a Jersey privateer in the mid 19th cetnruy after the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

Seawall discovered during excavation for Royal Yacht Hotel Development at the Weighbridge. Picture: Gareth Syvret

At the seward end of the site a seawall was broken through and there was a brief opportunity to examine the face. Documentary evidence suggests it was not there in 1794 but it must predate the establishement of the Royal Yacht Hotel in 1834. The face appeared to have several decades of exposure to sea and sand weathering. The watching brief is to continue and it is hoped that an opportunity will become available to examine the sand layers in the deepest part of the site.

The floor of the Samarès Colombier was cleaned and a detailed drawing made. A small area where the floor had been disturbed has been excavated below the granite paving.

Dr Rodwell's investigations at Mont Orgueil Castle culminated in October and two members of the Section helped with the excavation of the long passage and exposed evidence of a fore-building associated with the original mediaeval keep and archaeology showing the development of the fifth gate. Also excavated were two previously unrecorded cross walls in the D-shaped space where German occupation activity had also taken place. In February when the lawn was being relaid on the Grand Battery Stone features were encountered and the Section was asked to excavate the area. A five-metre rectangle was excavated revealing an irregular area that may have been paving. This re-opens the question as to whether the Grand Battery was ever completely paved, partly paved or never completed. The badly weathered plaque over the Fifth Gate has been studied and an attempt is being made to decipher it from old photographs and texts. The Committee is also sent all the SSI Planning Applications for Gorey and Elizabeth Castle to comment on. So far 166 detailed plans for applications at Gorey Castle have been made.

Members of the Section are continuing to investigate Lavours recorded in archive documents. This has led them into many obscure places and little known locations requiring diplomatic approaches to property owners.

The JHT is replacing signage at many of the archaeological sites that members of the Section regularly visit in order to monitor the condition. We would welcome any information that members may have on local brickworks.

John Clarke, Vice-Chairman