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EARLY DOCKLANDS PROJECT INFORMATION FOR VOLUNTEERS APRIL 2003

The following page contains useful information about working on the Thames Foreshore, especially on The COLAS Early Dockland Project for Wapping, Shadwell and Radcliff.

NEW VOLUNTEERS

Please read these notes carefully. If, having done so, you think you would like to become actively involved in the current season, please look on the Website for the Latest Bulletin for details of current activities. You are welcome to come along one day to see what it is like.

Please Note: If you wish to be put on our mailing list to be posted future 'Foreshore Bulletins', you must become a COLAS member - See Membership.

COLAS has been involved with the Thames Archaeological Survey since its beginning. Because the foreshore in the City of London is relatively well known, COLAS’s main area of work has been on the north bank of the Thames in the Wapping, Shadwell and Ratcliff districts of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. These areas were among the first outside the City to specialise in shipping and allied trades. Our preliminary survey of the Thames foreshore noted a very large number of features that relate to the uses made of the foreshore in the past. These include barge-beds, remains of docks, anchorages, watermen’s stairs and other access points, ships’ timbers and fittings, land drains, water intakes, and deposits of waste material from local trades, such as ship repair, coal handling, pottery making, and sugar refining.

THE COLAS EARLY DOCKLANDS PROJECT FOR WAPPING, SHADWELL AND RATCLIFF

Following on from our earlier discoveries COLAS is undertaking a thorough recording and research exercise in Wapping, Shadwell and Wapping that is known as The COLAS Early Docklands Project.

COLAS is making a complete and systematic recording of historic features on the Thames foreshore in our study area. This will provide comprehensive information for the Greater London Sites and Monuments Record, which will have to be taken into account in future planning and development decisions. It will also provide important ‘benchmark’information by which the future state of preservation of these features may be monitored.

In addition to our archaeological fieldwork and of equal importance will be an investigation of the relationship between man-made features and artifacts to early topography, local history and past transport, industrial or recreational practices. Background work on the study area had been begun by members of our ‘Research Group’. It is planned that the archaeological findings and historical research will be published both in the archaeological press and in forms accessible to the local authority and community.

WORK ON THE THAMES FORESHORE - WHAT’S INVOLVED.

The River Thames in the Greater London area is tidal. Our area for archaeology is the foreshore exposed at low tide. The river’s current and the tide is generally eroding the foreshore near the low tide line but depositing material on the upper part of the ‘beach’. The aim of our work is to record features of historic interest on the foreshore, which are often being eroded by the river. Most of our fieldwork will therefore consist mainly of cleaning features and making measurements, photographs and drawings. Fieldwork takes place at weekends, between April and October, when there are suitable low tides and key personnel are available. Because of the tides we have only a 2-3 hour ‘window of opportunity’ for work each day, with suitable low tides occurring about twice a month.

Fieldwork on the Thames foreshore is not excessively physical, but it can be mucky. COLAS will provide buckets, shovels, brushes and recording equipment. Useful work can be done by volunteers of all ages and the techniques used can be easily learnt. It is general best to take only a minimum of belongings onto the foreshore and to carry personal gear in a back-pack rather than in the hand.

PARTICIPANTS SHOULD :-

WEAR - Wellingtons (obligatory), old clothes, wind-proof jacket, rubber gloves. BRING - Trowel, hand wipes, cheap hand tape (if you have one) MAKE SURE - Your tetanus vaccination is up to day

AND OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING ESSENTIAL SAFETY RULES:- Never go on the foreshore alone. Walk as much as possible on stone/shingle, rather than sand/mud. Go carefully, especially when crossing water outflows. Avoid mud zones. Beware mudlarks' holes! These are often invisible until you sink into them. Always watch the tide and be aware of your nearest exit point. Water rises fast, so allow plenty of time to reach your exit point Be aware that many river stairs are wet, slippery, in poor repair and have no hand rail. Keep your personal belongings within sight. Never eat, drink or smoke on the foreshore and clean your hands thoroughly afterwards. In an emergency call 999 River Police, who can send a boat within 15 minutes.

TRAVEL & FACILITIES - FOR EARLY DOCKLANDS. The study area is on the north bank of the Thames, east of the Tower of London, with various access points along Wapping High Street, Wapping Wall and Glamis Rd. We sometimes go as far afield as Limehouse. Car parking is possible in the neighbourhood at weekends. Wapping High St is served by the No. 100 ‘Hoppa-bus’ from Liverpool St station to Shadwell station, via Aldgate, Mansell St, Tower Hill, St Katherine’s dock, Wapping High St, & Glamis Rd. about every 15 min. A number of other buses pass along The Highway, which is within walking distance of most of our rendezvous points. The East London tube line passes through Wapping station. The DLR station of Shadwell is about 10 mins walk from the riverside. The area has relatively few shops or cafes, but has several nice riverside pubs and a good coffee bar where it is possible to get snacks.

BAD WEATHER Experience has shown that it is neither safe nor practical to attempt to work on the foreshore in actual rain. However in the event of showers or a poor weather forecast the COLAS coordinator present will decide whether fieldwork is possible.

If you are a COLAS member and wish to be put on the mailing list for 'Foreshore Bulletins' please contact:
Simon Smith, 9B Rodwell Road, London SE22 9LF,
with details of your name, address, work and home phone no's and emails addresses. Or email these details to sjdowsmith1@aol.com

For any other information regarding COLAS fieldwork please contact:
Rose Baillie, Chair/Field Officer,
15 Escuan Lodge, Aberdeen Park, London N5 2AP
email mail@colas.org.uk