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Archaeology

Volunteers wanted !

Industrial Archaeological Excavations at Morwellham Quay, West Devon

This season's main excavation will be taking place from Saturday 18th July to Sunday 2nd August inclusive, and will build on the previous seven years' successful programme of excavations and building recording at this historic copper port.  In 2008 we excavated the upper deck and emptied the well of a small 18th century lime kiln, to find out more about its development and to inform its conservation.  Large quantities of early-mid 19th century domestic rubbish was found, including rare ginger beer bottles from the neighbouring Ship Inn.

Click picture to enlarge

This year’s excavations will focus on three areas:

1:  Clearance and excavation of the Malt House at Morwellham

The Malt House was constructed between 1787 and 1791 to manufacture roasted barley for making beer.  A substantial four-storeyed building, it had a tall coal-fired kiln to its rear for roasting the barley, but went out of use in 1856, when it was converted to a block of tenements (flats) for rent to twelve miners and their families.  An architectural survey in 1991 showed that the building was constructed into the corner of an earlier courtyard where timber was stored.

The building went out of use in the later 19th century and became derelict, losing its roof and upper two storeys by the 1950s.  One end continued as a store for the local woodland manager and was re-roofed in the 1970s by Morwellham Quay Museum.  The interior of the ruined part of the building was cleared at that time, but ivy and small trees were allowed to grow in it and soil was tipped in from the north.

We will be stripping out the vegetation and excavating the interior, down to the original floor surfaces.  These were not recorded in the 1970s, so we will be drawing and photographing them prior to the building’s conservation as an open-air museum exhibition space.

2:  Trial excavation on the course of the medieval (and possibly Roman) road into Morwellham.

This supports the work of a team of archaeologists currently researching communications around a Roman fort discovered at Calstock, on the opposite side of the River Tamar last year.  Volunteers will record features exposed in a machine excavated trench across the valley bottom.

3:  Stripping of vegetation and soil from the upper walls of the large limekiln.

This continues work commenced in 2008, which revealed sockets for timbers which supported a raised railway on the kiln top.  This was used between 1817 and 1869 to deliver coal and limestone to the mouths of the kilns.

Finds Processing

We will also be continuing the process of washing and cataloguing our backlog of finds from previous years’ excavations and chance finds over the years.  If your age or health prevents you from digging, Helen our finds specialist will be happy to receive assistance in the finds store.  Artefacts will include early railway components, 19th century china, and locally made bricks and tiles.

 

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