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The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich |
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 Bryan Matthews and his team who are undertaking excavations on the site of the former Carriage Department buildings at the Royal Arsenal have made a nationally important discovery. The technique of using timber planking to provide a level and stable base for wall foundations is well documented at the site where walls often have to have deep foundations situated on the London Clay.
However, in this instance the timbers used have been identified as pieces of naval gun carriages. These may have been surplus to requirements, out of date or damaged and were therefore put to use in the building works being undertaken in the early 1800s. Experts from English Heritage and the Royal Artillery and Naval Firepower Museums are currently assessing the timbers but it is thought that they date to the late 1700s. Surviving examples of Georgian gun carriages are rare. A similar assemblage recovered from the site in 2004 contained a number of unique examples and caused great excitement. These pieces are in excellent condition and could provide an important addition to the collection. |
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Bryan Matthews and his team who are undertaking excavations on the site of the former Carriage Department buildings at the Royal Arsenal have made a nationally important discovery. The technique of using timber planking to provide a level and stable base for wall foundations is well documented at the site where walls often have to have deep foundations situated on the London Clay.
However, in this instance the timbers used have been identified as pieces of naval gun carriages. These may have been surplus to requirements, out of date or damaged and were therefore put to use in the building works being undertaken in the early 1800s. Experts from English Heritage and the Royal Artillery and Naval Firepower Museums are currently assessing the timbers but it is thought that they date to the late 1700s. Surviving examples of Georgian gun carriages are rare. A similar assemblage recovered from the site in 2004 contained a number of unique examples and caused great excitement. These pieces are in excellent condition and could provide an important addition to the collection.