Amazing finds on the Charlton foreshore

Thanks to Elliott and Lorna from the Thames Discovery Team for an amazing meeting for GIHS on Tuesday.

We have the following report from Richard Buchanan - and see further down for details of when they will be on site again - and looking for volunteers

“Thames Discovery” is following on from the 1990s ‘Foreshore’ study, with small staff on a three year scheme to establish a continuing archaeological study of the Thames foreshore, which can change from tide to tide, eroding in some places or building up elsewhere. To do this they are training volunteers, both in the classroom and on sites – one of which is by the Anchor & Hope pub in Charlton.
There was a ship breakers yard there, where a square platform was built from scrap material. This was for boats to sit on between high tides for repair work. Map and pictorial evidence suggests it was built in 1904, a time when the yard broke up four warships built in mid-19C.
The 19C was a time of rapid change in warship design, going from: wooden sailing ships; through designs with wrought iron armour and steam engines driving screw propellers (though still with sails as early steam engines needed too much coal); iron ships, which could be made larger; to steel battleships such as the Dreadnaught. Warships could already be obsolete when they were launched. So few of a particular design would have been built – and the wood and iron used to make the boat platform is therefore of interest.
The Duke of Wellington, built at Pembroke in 1852 as the world’s largest and most powerful ship, probably contributed the timbers in the platform. The Hannibal, Deptford 1854; Edgar, Woolwich 1858; and Anson, Woolwich 1860, could also have contributed to the platform, which contains iron beams and some large lumps.

- Elliott says

These are the times for our fieldwork at Charlton: 27/7 0915-1315 28/7 0945-1345 29/7 1030-1430 30/7 1100-1500 31/7 1200-1600
If it is at all possible, it would be helpful for us if those who wanted to come down could come together as a group (or two groups on two different days?) as we will be training volunteers for most of the time, and it would be nice to devote some time to give your members a good tour of the site. If not, nevertheless, I will try to show everyone round as best I can.

Greenwich Historical Society

Here is there new programme

All meetings at 7.30 The Theatre, Blackheath High School Mycenae Road,

23rd September - Queen Caroline in Greenwich - Frances Ward

28th October - A Painters Paradise - Terry Scales

25th November - The Thames Tidal Mill by Simon Davis and Damien Goodburn

Maritime History

Info from the Centre for Maritime History - The following courses are available:

Themes in British Maritime History since the late 18th century The Royal Navy - 12 weeks Thurdays 10--12 from 1st October

Themes in British Maritime History since the late 18th century The Merchant Navy - 12 weeks Thurdays 1--3 from 1st October

20th Century International Naval History 15 weeks Thursdays 3.30 pm from 14th January

20th Century International Maritime History Thursdays 10 am from 14th January

This all costs £425 per course (gulp!!)

www.gre.ac.uk/gmi +44 20 8331 7688

Woolwich Antiquarians programme

Future meetings for Woolwich Antiquarians

all at Charlton House, 2.15

11th October A Celebration of Woolwich Town Hall by Jim Marrett

14th November London statues - by Sally Jenkinson

12th December - Sir Christopher Wren by Ian Bevan

9th January Aviation in North Kent by Jim Preston

6th February - A History of the National Trust by Peter Jones

6th March - the Women's Land Army by Carol Harris

Gassy bits

Mis-spent youth on the gas works - the latest Historic Gas Times details the misadventures of of a 'George' with petroleum distillate at East Greenwich Gas Works - which includes details of how storage and so on were managed - and about a major accident concerning petrol soaked overalls. You can get copies from Bob Winn, 91 Caroline Terrace, Wetherby, LS22 6TT

Requests for info

Email from Tom Jones who is researching Rolls Royce cars - he is interested to see if there is a Greenwich connection and in particular James Royce who died in Greenwich workhouse in 1872. He is also interested in an endurance trial in 1904 which crossed Shooters Hill - any info on any of these would be very welcome.

More dates and pieces

Letter from the National Maritime Museum urging us all to join www.nmm.ac.uk/membership costs £40 and you get in free sometimes

The Story of Three Mills Island - 28th June 11-4.00. Just over the river behind the Tesco on the Blackwall Tunnel Approach (this is the event I would go to if I could). Tours of the House Mill, look at the Euston Arch dragged up from the Prescott Channel, tour of the New Lock - this is a great event! Go to it!


Something is happening under the arches - this is on 12th July and it is again the other side of the river (sorry) bnut it to see a replica of A.V.Roe's Triplane and to celebrate the FIRST BRITISH FLIGHT at Walthamstow Marshes. It is at Lea Bridge Road, E10 7QL and is another Great Event. check out www.leevalleypark.org.uk