The archaeology and history of Wanstead Parklands

A Project Design for a community-led programme of work

May 2007

By John Shepherd BA FSA MIFA

1) Executive Summary

By means of a series of public events and non-invasive archaeological research, it is proposed to :-

• gather information about the natural geology of the Park
• gather information about the early 18th century landscape
• identify possible archaeological features pre-dating the 18th century landscaping
• identify any Roman occupation on the site
• take regard of the 18th century, and later, landscaping features.
• present the archaeology of the Park in a series of Public outreach exercises
• propose a new programme of fieldwork to elucidate the history and technique of construction of a number of 18th century landscape

2) Project Name

Wanstead Parklands Community Project - the archaeology of the Parklands

3) Summary Description

3.1 Wanstead Parklands
Wanstead Parklands consists of a multi-period landscape, the most visible remains of which can be dated to the 18th century. Beneath this hand-sculpted landscape, however, there exists evidence for earlier occupation going back to at least the Roman period. The aim of this project is to explore this multi-period archaeological and historic landscape using mainly non-intrusive techniques of geophysical prospection. At a later date, selected excavation might be possible, but initially the focus of attention will be upon increasing our knowledge of the landscape of the Parklands. An important element of the whole exercise is to share the results of this study with the community at large through a series of public outreach and educational exercises. The project will be led by the Wanstead Parklands Community Project (WPCP), in association with the West Essex Archaeology Group (WEAG) and the Museum of London Archaeological Archive and Research Centre (LAARC).

4) Project Background

4.1 Project origins
This project originated from the concerns of a group of individuals all with knowledge of, and interest in Wanstead Park and a desire to protect its heritage for future generations. Wanstead Parklands Community Project was formed in response. The WPCP committee has representatives at committee level from three local historical groups representing several hundred members. Two members regularly give guided historical tours of the Park. Local schools have been approached and have given their support.

4.2 Overall project objectives
In July 2006 the WPCP were successful in an application for HLF Local Heritage Initiative funding. The purposes of the grant was:-

to raise the profile of the Park and engage all sections of the local population in gathering information on the historic features of the park through non-invasive archaeology and desk based research

to promote a better understanding of the site by using the results of the research for the creation of a variety of interpretative materials

to encourage the involvement of the local community in the care and protection of the site.

to make use of new geophysics interpretive software to elucidate the earliest history of the site and explore the potential for non-invasive survey beneath the ponds and lakes of the Park

4.3 Historical and contemporary definition of 'Parklands'The maximum extent of the historical parklands is probably best illustrated by Jean Rocque's 1746 plan of the Wanstead Estate from part of a plan of the whole of London. It shows avenues of trees extending to Snaresbrook and Leytonstone in the west and the gardens extending east beyond the River Roding to Ilford. The area today known as the Plain has historically been referred to as "the Park".

The modern definition of parklands as perceived by LB Redbridge and CoL. The LB Redbridge created the Wanstead Park Conservation Area encompassing much but not all of the historic Wanstead Estate. The boundaries to the south along Northumberland Avenue and to the east along the River Roding are coincident with the City of London's but to the north and west the Conservation Area takes in the Wanstead Golf Course and some private houses along Overton Drive and Raynes Avenue. It omits Bush Wood to the west of Blake Hall Road and areas to the north.

The City of London has possibly for reasons of security but not entirely clear, regarded Wanstead Park as the area to the east of Warren Road. This area was enclosed and has its own byelaws. The area to the east is considered part of Epping Forest and is managed and regulated in the same way as the rest of the Forest. There is an area to the southeast known as "the exchange lands" formerly a sewage works now managed as part of Epping Forest but outside the historic boundary of the Wanstead Estate although at one time owned by the Tylney family.

4.4 Modern ownership and responsibilities for 'Parklands'
Wanstead Park, which includes the publicly accessible areas to the east and west of Warren Road, is "owned" by the City of London and managed by the Conservators of Epping Forest.

The Park as defined above lies within the London Borough of Redbridge and is subject to its statutory regulation for such matters as planning and tree conservation.

Wanstead Park also falls within the bounds of the Greater London Authority and is included in a number of GLA proposals such as the Green Arc, Green Grid and Blue Ribbon Network.

4.5 Geographical area of proposed study
The proposed study, being a geophysical survey of the historic Wanstead House estate, could include all those areas within the historic boundary of the estate deemed accessible to geophysical survey methods. There are limitations however in that some of this area is privately owned, nevertheless some owners such as Wanstead Golf Club might be willing to participate.

Clearly not all of this area has the same historical significance and as such would have lower priority in terms of the need to survey. The Plain and the long walk or Glade would have higher priority. These areas are controlled by the City of London and subject to license obtained by the WPCP.

Even though this archaeological research is non-invasive it is regarded as absolutely essential to keep all stakeholders closely involved in the event that a future archaeological excavation might be proposed

4.6 Brief summary of recent research initiatives

Late 20th gardens and parks research
Debois Landscape Survey Group:1990

Summary of findings (extracts)
Our first aim in this survey was to plot all the evidence of landscaping in the Park (the golf course and public park), not only as a record and an aid to understanding its history, but also to find out what there is that is worth protecting in the Park today. This evidence consisted largely of the earthworks, recorded by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), and shown on Plan 1.
We combined this evidence with the plans of John Rocque (cl735 and cl745) to produce Plan 2, a schematic reconstruction of the landscape in about 1740, which can be read as a key to the surviving features of historical interest. This plan shows graphically how invaluable the work done by the RCHME will be as a tool of management.
As a result we have distinguished for the first time between works projected and works actually carried out on the great series of plans and elevations by John Rocque. We have also been able to record for the first time the large scale of the changes brought about in the 1760's by the 2nd Earl of Tylney, and, again for the first time, the even more extensive changes carried out by William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley in the early C19 (probably with the advice of Humphry Repton). This last discovery includes plotting in some detail the very rare survival of the parterre laid out by Repton off the west front of the house.
The RCHME has also shown how widely the important earthworks are distributed through the park and how carefully therefore any replanting scheme must be monitored.

See also Sally Jeffery The Gardens of Wanstead; Proceedings of a study day held at the Temple, Wanstead Park, Greater London, 25th September 1999 (London Parks and Gardens Trust) for detail upon the study of the 18th century and later landscape.

4.7 Archaeological observations in Wanstead Park
No site code 300yds north of Pails, Wanstead Park, 1715
Adam Holt/Lord Tilney. A mosaic was discovered in the course of the digging of holes for the planting of an avenue of trees. Roman building material and pottery also found.

No site code 300yds north of Pails, Wanstead Park 1746
Lord Tilney. Further work in vicinity of site of mosaic revealed Roman artefacts.

No site code North-east of Perch Pond, 1962 and 197*
Elsdon Tuffs. Two main campaigns of archaeological excavation were carried out on the north side of the Perch pond, Tuffs (1960s) and Clark (late 1970s to early1980s). Both campaigns failed to locate the remains of the villa buildings in situ but large quantities of redeposited building materials were found, including tesserae, painted wall plaster (in very good condition) and other ceramic building materials. The stratigraphy could not be properly understood, the scale of excavation being so small, and Clark believed that there was the likelihood that one at least of his trenches might have discovered a tree planting hole (pers. Comm. 2006). There is no doubt that Roman archaeology representing a domestic building, at least, is in the immediate vicinity and traces of this can still be seen eroding from the north bank of the Perch Pond.

Other excavation to the south and outside of the Park - in the area of the allotments - by Tuffs revealed traces of Roman occupation, which could not be properly determined. There was no evidence of a substantial building

GM448 North-east corner of Perch Pond, Wanstead Park, 1962
Tuffs excavations. Finds from this site included sherds of coarse ware and Samian ware, sections of flue and plain tiles and tesserae.

WT-TP92 Temple Pond, Wanstead Park, 1992
Passmore Edwards Museum. A post-medieval pond was investigated to establish its size and nature. It appeared to have been ground-water fed and was backfilled in two phases in the 19th and 20th century. (London Archaeologist Round-up 1992)

WT-GR93 The Grotto, Wanstead Park, 1993
Newham Museums Service. A small trench was excavated in the south part of the former boathouse, which was part of the 18th century grotto. It revealed the internal arrangements of the entrance at the south end of the boathouse and some evidence for the sequence of construction and remodelling of the structure during its lifetime. (London Archaeologist Round-up 1993)

WT-PP95 Water pipeline, Wanstead Park, 1995
Newham Museums Service. A watching brief along the pipeline trench and at the pumping station recovered unstratified Roman, medieval and 19th/20th century finds, particularly building material and including a coin of the House of Constantine AD 330-335. Pits and deposits of the post-medieval period until the 19th-20th century were recorded. (London Archaeologist Round-up 1995)

GWP97 The Grotto, Wanstead Park. 1997 and 1998
Museum of London Archaeology Service. A survey and reconstruction drawings of the ruined Grotto were carried out. Situated at the S end of Perch Pond, it was originally constructed as a boat-house, with chambers above for a boatkeeper, within the park of Wanstead House (rebuilt in 1781). A fire caused substantial damage to the Grotto in 1884 and more recent erosion, robbing, and vandalism have caused widespread damage, leaving the building very ruinous. The E wall of the boat-house dock, uncovered in previous excavations, was re-surveyed. ((London Archaeologist Round-up 1997)

Work in 1998 involved the excavation of the boat dock begun the previous year (LA 8, supp. 3 (1998), 95) and the evaluation of small areas across the entrance passage to the S of the boathouse and in the causeway E of the lakeside entrance to the dock. The entire length of the surviving 18th century dock structure was revealed; it is constructed of red bricks, has a shallow concave base with low vertical walls on either side rising to a curved wall at the S end. The E and W causeways were constructed as raised platforms on brickearth packing above a stepped brick form work; the surfaces were of pebbles or stone respectively. A probable landing stage of blue/black marbled stone was located at the front edge of the W causeway. More of the gravel surface within the boathouse, partially recorded in 1993 (London Archaeologist Round-up 7, 8 (1994), 211 (WT-TG 93)), was exposed; it was found to be continuous, with a substantial path constructed between two dwarf walls of roughly dressed stone extending through the entrance. On the opposite bank of the Ornamental Water at the water's edge, the brickwork for the N bridge abutment was exposed when the water level had been lowered. Photographs taken during dry weather conditions in the past have shown evidence of piers for the bridge, and stone debris extending across the bed of the lake towards The Grotto. (London Archaeologist Round-up 1998).

WPK99 The Temple, Wanstead Park, 1999
Essex County Council Field Archaeology Unit. An evaluation was carried out on the W, N and E sides of the temple to provide information to assist in its restoration. The temple was built in the mid-18th century during landscaping of the grounds of Wanstead House, following its latest rebuilding in 1715. The mansion was demolished in 1824, but the temple survives as a feature of the park, built in classical mock-Tuscan style with a central portion and W-facing portico flanked by wings of plainer design extending to N and S. It was found that the N wing and the central part of the building appear to have been of one build. A timber extension to the N wing, built in the 19th century on low brick sleeper walls and demolished in the 1950s, was located. The mound in front of the temple had not substantially changed from its original form, and had been consolidated by turfing over when new. The original gravel path running along the W frontage was also recorded. The existing gravel surface to the E (rear) of the temple had a relatively modern brick rubble base, the original surface having probably been destroyed. (London Archaeologist Round-up 1999).

WND01 The Temple, Wanstead Park, 2001
The Temple is part of the mid-18th-c historic park of Wanstead House (rebuilt in c. 1716). A mock-classical building, it lies behind an artificial mound which was formed at the same time and as part of the same design as the Temple. The location of the original edge of the mound was located; it is dated to the mid-18th century. Residual Roman tile fragments were also found; these may relate to Roman features recorded in the area in the 18th century. (London Archaeologist Round-up 2001).

TWN02 The Temple, Wanstead Park, 2002
Museum of London Archaeology Service. An evaluation took place to ascertain the location of and details about a former pond known to have existed until the late 19th -early 20th centuries, so that it may be reinstated. Part of a brick slipway into the pond and part of the pond lining, probably dating to the 18th or 19th centuries, were found above the natural gravels. An 18th-c circular brick structure, probably an ice house and broadly contemporary with the Temple nearby, was also recorded. (London Archaeologist Round-up 2002).

No site code The Plain, Wanstead Park
GSB prospection Limited for Thames Water.

In October 2005, Thames Water, in response to concerns from the public over plans to install a pipeline across the site of the Roman Villa marked on the OS map, commissioned GSB Prospection to undertake a limited geophysical survey of a 3ha area covering the supposed site of the Roman Villa. This 5 day survey was undertaken in very wet weather conditions and the bulk of the survey was by magnetometry with smaller areas surveyed using GPR and earth resistance.

GSB concluded there was no obvious evidence of any structure in the area of concern although the wider survey revealed a pair of potential ring ditches, 10m and 20m in diameter. The majority of anomalies lacked the kind of characterising form that would allow precise interpretations to be made, with nothing that appeared to represent wall lines or foundations.

Given that it's known that the area surveyed was extensively landscaped in the early 18th century and the ground level could have been raised by as much as 2 metres, GSB's conclusions are not entirely unexpected. GSB carried out only a brief GPR survey of the area to a depth of only 1.5 metres so a more careful survey to greater depth would certainly be worthwhile.

In brief their final, but unpublished results are as follows (extract from unpublished Thames Water Survey results)-

"There appear to be few, if any, detectable archaeological remains around the present borehole. To the west of the current pump housing there are some high amplitude GPR responses that, although lacking any characterising form, may be of significance. This is close to where Roman remains were found in the 1960s excavations but the adjacent wooded area means that these responses could conceivably be associated with a dense root mass.

The wider survey has shown a pair of potential ring ditches, 10m and 20m in diameter. There also appear to be a number of linear ditch-like features associated with these. Other anomalies in the main survey area appear to relate to modern intervention and landscaping or natural features. The majority of anomalies lacked the kind of characterising form that would allow precise interpretations to be made, with nothing that appeared to represent wall lines or foundations.

In the northeast of the park, a possible former footpath has been detected along with a wide but shallow spread of high amplitude GPR anomalies. The archaeological potential of these anomalies is not thought to be high."

4.8 Archaeological observations in vicinity of Park and within Parklands

WT-SR90 M11 Link Rd, Seagry Road, 1990
Passmore Edwards Museum. Evidence for late 18th century improvement schemes in the form of a mole drain were discovered, as well as some undateable cuts. (London Archaeologist Round-up 1990).

WT-GG90 George Green
Passmore Edwards Museum. No summary available.

WT-BH90 M11 Link Rd, Blake Hall Road, 1990
Passmore Edwards Museum. Evidence for late 18th century improvement schemes in the form of a mole drain were discovered, as well as some undateable cuts. (London Archaeologist Round-up 1990).

WT-TG91 The Green, 1991
Passmore Edwards Museum. No summary available.

WT-OD92 Overton Drive, 1992
Passmore Edwards Museum. The area had been substantially disturbed in the 20th century. (London Archaeologist Round-up 1992).

NTV98 Emergency Control Centre (former), Northumberland Ave.
Pre-Construct Archaeology. Natural deposits were not observed and the site had been severely truncated by the building of the centre. (London Archaeologist Round-up 1998).

4.9 Summary of current state of knowledge for location of villa
See appendix 1 for a full explanation of the theory relating to the location of the Roman villa at Wanstead Park

5. Specific Aims and Objectives for 2007-08 Project

• To gather information to reconstruct the surface of natural geology beneath the Park
• To gather information to reconstruct the surface of the early 18th century landscape
• To identify possible archaeological features pre-dating the 18th century landscaping through a programme of geophysics
• To see if it is possible to identify the location and nature of any Roman occupation on the site and to compare it with 18th century observations and 20th century excavations.
• To take regard of the 18th century, and later, landscaping features.
• To present the archaeology of the Park in a series of open air Public outreach exercises, static exhibitions and displays and some publications (pamphlets, leaflets, books, DVD)
• To propose a new programme of fieldwork to elucidate the history and technique of construction of a number of 18th century landscape feature - e.g. the Long Walk, the amphitheatres, the Engine House, the Fortifications, the Mounds etc

6. Project scope

The Roding valley lies between two areas of archaeological research and interest - the study of the 'City-centric' London region and the study of the County of Essex. Accordingly, the site of Wanstead Park does not feature strongly in the overarching research design of either area.

For example the villa is not mentioned in the MoL research framework, A Research Framework for London Archaeology 2002 (Nixon, T et al 2002), although Wanstead Park receives two brief references (as is the case for all sites cited) in the Archaeology of Greater London. The villa is described as '…a number of Roman structures, at least one of which had a mosaic pavement…set in an area of 20ha overlooking the Roding Valley near a road junction: this was either a widely dispersed villa complex or two or three such establishments located close to each other.'

The second reference relates to the Grotto, a site which MoLAS had conducted work upon prior to the publication of the guide.,

However a number of the Research Framework objectives, a document that is sadly City focused City of London, Westminster and Southwark), apply to this site. For example:-
R1, Late iron Age - roman transition; R2, Define relationships between landscape and settlement; R3, Relationship of central core to hinterland; R4, Infrastructure - roads, forests etc; R7, People; R12, Agriculture,- town and country food production; R13, Urban centre as consumer.

Wanstead Park is not mentioned in the Essex volumes - but the same applies for many sites, the documents intending to be discussions of research approaches and resources. - (Research and Archaeology: a Framework for the Eastern Counties, 1. Resource Assessment (Glazebrook, J. (ed) 1997) and Research and Archaeology: a Framework for the Eastern Counties, 2. Research agenda and strategy (Brown, N., and Glazebrook, J. (eds) 2000). However, in these volumes, the Roman section emphasises the need to understand population centres, villas, road systems, and relationships between urban and rural economies.

7. Interfaces and communications

Corporation of London - as 'owner' of the Park, the Corporation have a strict locus to ensure that proper procedures are carried out without detriment to the Park as a whole. Principle contact - James Clare
LB Redbridge - as 'owner' of parts of the Parkland with a vested verall interest in the future of the Park itself. Principle contact - James Hetherington (?)
Wanstead Parklands Community Project - in effect, the 'clients' for the 2007-08 project. This group is successfully raising awareness about the history and future of the Parklands, especially the Park itself. Principle contacts - Patricia Moxey and Ralph Potter.
West Essex Archaeology Group - the local special interest group engaged in archaeological work in the west Essex area, including the former metropolitan Essex borough of Woodford and Wanstead (Redbridge). Principle contacts - John Shepherd and Nick Bateson.
London Archaeological Archive and Research Centre - part of the Museum of London curatorial division and the lead institution in the organising of public archaeology in the Greater London area. Principle contacts - Roy Stephenson and Kate Sutton
Museum of London Archaeology Service - archaeological consultant to the Corporation of London. Principle contact - David Bowsher
English Heritage - Archaeological curators and scientific advisors for Redbridge and Grade II listed Park. Principle contacts - Jane Sidell and David Divers.

8. Project Review

Critical path and monitoring points to be set by the management committee.

9. Health and Safety considerations

The following is a statement from WEAG

1. An archaeological site is a potentially dangerous place, even when there are no trenches and no digging. Due care and attention needs to be paid to personal safety by all on site at all times.

2. For magnetometry survey, -try to walk at a constant pace, holding the instrument steady, over very uneven ground may lead to slips and falls that can damage the walker as well as the instrument.

3. It is easy to trip on grid pegs, lines and tapes. You need to be vigilant at all times.

4. When working in the vicinity of the ponds, bear in mind the danger of water-borne infections and wash your hands well before eating food.

5. You need an up-to-date Tetanus injection (they are valid for ten years).

6. Note that there is a First Aid box and an Accident Book kept near the magnetometer case.

7. The WEAG Insurance policy with RBPM Scheme and Specialist Insurance (Policy Number 2006/513) includes Employers' Liability, which covers all WEAG members, and Public Liability, which covers legal liability to third parties for personal injury or property damage. Children aged 11 or under are not covered. Persons aged 12 - 14 are covered by the WEAG family membership but, when present, must be carefully supervised. There is no upper age limit on cover.

8. Nearest Accident & Emergency department: Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone.

10. Project team, structure

Tricia Moxey, Wanstead Parklands Community Project, Chairman, retired in March 2005 from the Epping Forest Department of the Corporation of London where she had held the post of Information Services Manager. In that capacity, she was involved with the delivery of a wide range of public activities designed to encourage the public in their appreciation and use Epping Forest as a valued open space. She produced exhibitions, interpretative material about the Forest and planned and organised the annual Forest Festival, an open air event bringing together a number of local groups, craft folk and displays which were enjoyed by 10,000 or so visitors. Tricia has a considerable knowledge and understanding of the landscape history and wildlife of Wanstead Park as well as the many challenges which face the Corporation in planning its future management. Currently, Tricia is a part-time Tutor in Ecology with the WEA and is involved with a number of other local organisations including the Essex Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Epping Forest.

Ralph Potter, Wanstead Parklands Community Project, Secretary, has been a lifelong visitor to Wanstead Park (over 50 years) and has made it a personal mission to see this uniquely historic park receives the recognition it deserves. He has researched the documented history of the Park and is particularly passionate about the "Lost Roman Villa" and the lake system. He was recently instrumental in the production of a geophysical survey over a small area of the Park which has revealed evidence of Iron Age or Saxon roundhouses. A member of the Wanstead Historical Society and the West Essex Archaeological Society he is full time employed as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of East London.

John Shepherd - WEAG archaeological director, Born London 1957. BA London 1978. Institute of Archaeology, Research Assistant to Prof. W F Grimes 1981-84; Museum of London, DUA Research Assistant 1985-89; Curator Grimes London Archive 1990-1996; Manager London Archaeological Archive Research Centre 1997-2004; Institute of Archaeology, UCL, FDTL5 Archive Archaeology Project Officer, 2005-present. Fellow Society of Antiquaries, Member of the Institute for Field Archaeologists.

Nicholas Bateson WEAG, chair of Research and Excavation Committee
Born London 1935. BA Oxon 1957. Research and teaching in social psychology 1959-1969 (Univ North Carolina; Oxford Univ; LSE). Economic and social researcher 1970-1995 (OPCS, London). Birkbeck Diploma in Prehistoric Archaeology (with Distinction) 1998 (V. Gordon Childe prize). Chairman, WEAG Research & Excavation Committee since 2000. Member, LAMAS Archaeology Committee since 2001. Administrator, Copped Hall Trust Archaeological Project since 2003.

11. Method Statement for 2007 work (JS, NB and LAARC)

11.1 Introduction
It has to be admitted that one of the primary purposes of the 07-08 project is to locate the remains of the Roman villa supposed to be in the vicinity of the Perch Pond. In the course of this work, however, it is intended to record the multi-period landscape on and under The Plain. The purpose of the geophysical survey will be to enable us to determine, through non-invasive techniques, archaeological features that have not been previously noted.

11.2 Field survey

The 2007-08 project will restrict itself to The Plain.

A project code will be created and an OASIS on-line record will be initiated and key words completed on Details, Location and Creators forms prior to fieldwork commencing.

Agreement will be made with either Redbridge Museum or the Museum of London to receive the primary archive generated by this project.

The GLSMR will be informed of the results of the work.

An initial search of the records held by the Park Superintendent for any services will be conducted. Although no excavation will take place, an awareness of these features would not be amiss.

Survey point established by the RCHM will be relocated in the ground and made visible among the undergrowth.

A base line will be laid down with discrete physical markers for the duration of the project.

All activities will be separated from the public and their pets by means of plastic safety fencing held in place with wooden stakes. Suitable warning signage, if necessary, will be located and information panels, as well as WEAG 'ambassadors' will be on hand to assist public enquiries.

The area will be surveyed in 20 x 20 metre grids aligned on the Ordnance Survey grid (+/- 0.10m error). The East-West line will be set out with either a differential GPS (+/- 0.01 error) or total station. The grid will be physically marked out with bamboo canes ensuring that these do not penetrate beneath the uppermost soil horizon.

The magnetometer will by a Bartington 601 single gradiometer, used at transect intervals of 1m, sampled at 0.125m.

Ground Penetrating Radar will be a RAMAC X3M made by MALA Geoscience equipped with 250 & 500 MHz shielded antennas.

Augering will be carried out, in particular in areas away from known structural remains. The precise methodology will need to be determined following the GPR survey but four boreholes have been agreed at the intersections of the grid overlying a possible building north of the modern tea kiosk. MoLAS staff have volunteered their time and equipment for this purpose.

A photographic record will be made of the exercise using digital, 35mm colour transparencies and 35mm black and white film.

All records will be completed on site in the course of the survey work.

11.3 Post-excavation
Any artefactual remains inadvertently recovered during the survey will be cleaned, catalogued and analysed by relevant specialists following fieldwork in accordance with Standards and Guidelines for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials (Institute of Field Archaeologists 2001)

An assessment of the recorded evidence will be made in accordance with Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991) and a report written.

The results will be disseminated by means of an appropriate form of publication; client's report, Journal Note or Article, or Monograph.

The full results of the survey will be ready for publication in the summer of 2008. It is, however, expected that an initial interim account will be published in The London Archaeologist in Summer 2007.

An OASIS online form will be completed and submitted to the GLSMR, including an uploaded .pdf version of the report.

An archive will be prepared in a format suitable for security copying to microfilm on behalf of the RCHME, if required. It will be prepared consistent with the principles of Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991).

Excepting those covered by the Treasure Act of 1996, all archaeological materials discovered in the course of the survey will remain the property of the Corporation of London.

11.4 Timetable and resources
A work programme has yet to be finalised upon production of the final draft of this Project Design. The project is expected to commence during June 07, with the first delivery of observations and interpretations in time for public access initiatives during that month. Further work, especially magentometry, will take place throughout the year, in particular from September to November 07.

11.5 Works and costs implications
All equipment is available in the tool and equipment stock of WEAG.

11.6 Staffing
The project will be managed by John Shepherd and carried out by members of the WEAG. Together with the WPCP, the latter group will accept responsibilities for finance, standards, health & safety issues and liaison with the Corporation of London and its representatives as landowner, and the MoL/Redbridge Museum as curator of archive.

11.7 General conditions
This draft Project Design and proposed start date has been submitted to the Corporation of London for consideration and comment. Permissions to carry out this survey are to be acquired from the office of the City Surveyor as a condition of the Licence granted to the WPCP.

11.8 Quality Standards
The highest possible standards will be sought, with the application of the most advanced and appropriate techniques possible within a context of continuous improvement aimed at maximising the recovery of archaeological data and contributing to the development of a greater understanding of this part of the London Borough of Redbridge specifically and this region of Greater London in general.

The Code of Practice and the Code of Practice for the regulation of Contractual Arrangements in Field Archaeology of the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA) will be adhered to. John Shepherd is a member of the IFA at MIFA level (membership number 4887).

Archiving of the project will be carried out according to the Archive Standards of the LAARC, MoL.

11.9 Health and Safety
All work is carried out to standards defined in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The management of Health and Safety Regulations 1992 and Health and Safety in Field Archaeology (SCAUM 1997). Risk assessments and statutory notices will be prepared. All staff and visitors will be required to read the Risk Assessments. Copies will be provided for inclusion in the health and safety plan/file as required.

Protective clothing and equipment will be provided as required.

Existing facilities will provide staff comfort and welfare needs

Appendix 1

History of Roman mosaic Wanstead Park by W.H. George (Clark1985)

The site of the Roman mosaic in Wanstead Park has been intensively investigated by two local people. Smart Lethieullier in the period 1715-1746 and J. Elsden Tuffs between approximately 1947-1973. Smart Lethieullier (1701-1760) of Aldersbrook was both a Fellow of the Royal Society and of the Society of Antiquaries, Lord of the Manor of Barking and a prolific letter writer (WROTH 1909 p.1011 & CHOWN 1927 pp. 19-39). He gave detailed descriptions of the pavement in two letters dated 1735 and 1746.

Smart Lethieullier wrote from Aldersbrook to Roger Gale on 12th July 1735 giving an account of a Roman pavement in Wanstead Park. He stated that the mosaic was found about 20 years before in Earl Tilney's Park and added that it was now obliterated and the face of the ground much changed. The discovery was made when holes were being dug for an avenue of trees from the gardens. The gardener Adam Holt recognized the pieces of mosaic or tesserae but was refused leave to fully expose the pavement. He determined its extent to be about 20 feet from north to south and 16 feet from east to west. It was constructed of black, white and red tesserae of which Lethieullier had examples. The mosaic was reported to have a foot wide border of red dice about 3/4 inch square 'within which were several ornaments, and in the middle the figure of a man riding upon some beast and holding something in his hands'. Holt's examination was hurried and patchy. A silver and a brass coin were found. It would appear therefore that Lethieullier did not actuallsee the mosaic but subsequently visited the site frequently and collected tesserae, brick and tile. He interpreted the imbrex to be guttering. He recorded the site as follows:

'The pavement was situated on a gentle gravelly ascent towards the north, and at a small distance from the south end of it I remember a well of exceedingly fine water, now absorbed in a great pond. From this well the ground rises likewise toward the south till it comes to a plain, which extends a considerable way, and is now my warren'.

Lethieullier added that about 300 yards due south from the well and pavement ruins of foundations were formerly to be seen, but were destroyed by the planting. He conjectured the mosaic to be the floor of a banqueting house (Lethieullier 1735).

Some eleven years later Smart Lethieullier wrote to Dr. Charles Lyttelton about the Roman pavement. He reiterated the account from Adam Holt. The beast was now described as a horse and the site as being upon an easy declivity fronting the south, close by a beautiful well of bright water. Lethieullier had changed his interpretation of the pavement as being part of a banqueting house or 'place of mirth and pleasure' because in the summer of 1746 Lord Tilney had further alterations made on the spot where the pavement formerly lay. The workmen found fragments of broken pots, bones and teeth. He visited the site and found 'fragments of several urns of different colours, but of the coarsest earth with a great deal of brick and tiles'. Roman coins were found and Lethieullier supposed this to have been the mausoleum of some private family whose villa perhaps stood on that more elevated situation where Wanstead now stands (Lethieullier 1746).

Lethieullier's descriptions of the site are rather vague, but consistent. He clearly stated that the site was on a gentle south facing slope near a well, that the mosaic was obliterated or destroyed and the environs totally changed. To ensure that no further accounts of this site by Lethieullier had been missed a search of his papers at Breamore House, Hampshire previously thought to have been destroyed in a fire there in 1857 (Lockwood 1973 pp.6-7, 20) was most kindly undertaken on the Group's behalf by Sir Westrow Hulse but no further information was found. Some of this material together with Lethieullier's portrait was recently displayed in the Huguenot exhibition at the Museum of London (1985 pp. 154-158). A search at the Society of Antiquaries failed to reveal any further information. Mr. P.A.S. Pool kindly went through the Lethieullier letters to William Borlase in the Morrab Gardens Library, Penzance, Cornwall but no mention of the Wanstead material was found. His obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine (1760 pp.394 & 443) gives no further information. Smart Lethieullier was buried in the family vault beneath their chapel at St. Mary the Virgin, Little Ilford, Essex. The Lethieullier vault and its contents was recently examined during renovations to the church (Redknap 1985 pp.36-37).

Mr. S.S. Campbell-Adams who has researched the history of Wanstead Park and its gardens was contacted and he replied that in 1820 William Wellesley Pole erected extensive hot houses in the kitchen gardens and formed one of the largest American gardens in England and personally saw the uncovering of part of a large mosaic pavement six or seven hundred feet north-west of Heronry Pond. Unfortunately the reference for this was lost by Mr. Campbell-Adams in a fire.

No further original work was done on this site for some two hundred years following Lethieullier's accounts. His work has been extensively quoted and copied. For example Morant (1768 p.28) stated that the pavement was found in 1715 while planting an avenue of trees in the park 'on the south side of the lower part of the Gardens'. He added the mosaic was situated on a gentle gravelly ascent towards the north at a small distance from the south end of it was a spring, or well, of fine water, now absorbed in a great pond. According to Morant the coarse urns were found about 300 yards directly south of the well and pavement. Lysons (1796 pp.231-232) made a passing reference to Lethieullier's account of the mosaic pavement. Elizabeth Ogborne (1814 p.69) recorded the Roman villa or some small station at Wanstead in exactly Lethieullier's words although she changed some of the Latin terms but she gave the wrong page reference to his article in Archaeologia. This bibliographic error was repeated by James Thorne (1876 p.667). White (1848 p.261) incorrectly stated the mosaic was found in 1735 which was in fact the date of Lethieullier's letter to Gale. Dawson (c.1910 pp.27-28) faithfully quoted Lethieullier but on his map of Wanstead Park the site is marked adjacent to the Ornamental Water, just south of the grotto.

A brief record of the site was included in the R.C.H.M. Inventory of Essex (1921 Vol. II pp.248-249). It was described as being in Wanstead Park north or north-west of the Heronry Pond and about one mile north of the Roman road from London to Colchester. The mosaic was interpreted as possibly Bacchus on a panther. It added that in 1846 Roman finds were made 'apparently some two or three hundred yards further north. More recently, pottery and glass have been found in the gravel pits near the sewage farm, in the S.E. corner of the parish'. According to the note some of the pottery was in East Ham Museum.

This account was repeated in the Roman Essex volume of the Victoria County History (1963 p.198). Winifred Phillips (1946 p.11) mentioned that the mosaic was excavated in 1715 north of Heronry Pond when the foundations were being prepared for the Great Wanstead House. She added 'To the lasting regret of local antiquarians, this valuable mosaic was ordered to be destroyed almost as soon as it was discovered. The reason for making so arbitrary an injunction is by no means clear; but it would seem that it was little more than a perverse whim that deprived Wanstead of a priceless piece of historical evidence'.

The second person to have extensively studied this site was J. Elsden Tuffs who having read Lethieullier's reports was determined to locate the site of the mosaic and began his investigations in 1947. He re-examined the earlier reports, studied maps and conducted field work. Elsden Tuffs started his excavations to the north of Heronry Pond but only found 17th and 18th century brick, china and clay tobacco pipes. He then examined the western end of the north side of Perch Pond and a few yards from the bank found among tangled roots in a trench 'four feet square (sic) two inches of top soil, about five inches of tiles, brick etc. packed tightly in layers, below this were pottery fragments, oyster shells, a coin (A.D. 330-335), a few bones, nails and a number of tesserae cubes of various sizes and colours on a mortar bed three inches thick and tolerably flat'. His investigations 20 feet to the north and 16 feet to the east of the original area excavated also revealed fragments of mortar and tesserae. Accordingly Elsden Tuffs concluded this was the site of the mosaic. He added that from accounts of the pavement the man riding on an animal was in fact, the god Bacchus riding on a panther, holding a thyrsus in one of his hands and a goblet in the other and suggested the Wanstead mosaic was possibly a copy of that found in Leadenhall Street, London (Elsden Tuffs 1962).

Some eleven years later Elsden Tuffs issued a supplementary report on his rediscovery of the Roman villa. He concentrated his efforts on the allotments immediately south of the villa where Lethieullier had previously recorded foundations but nothing of especial interest was found. Indeed Elsden Tuffs suggested the possibility the foundations may have been of a medieval date with reused Roman material. He confirmed however that much of the material excavated during the construction of the Perch Pond was dumped on the south side of the pond. In 1966 a trench was machined along the artificial bank between the Heronry and Perch Ponds to lay an electricity cable. Roman roofing tile and pavement mortar was thrown up. In addition in 1972 due to the ravages of Dutch Elm disease several trees adjacent to the Roman site were felled and pottery, roofing tile, flue tile and stone found in the upturned roots of one tree. He also briefly detailed pre-Roman and Roman sites in the area including arrow heads found during the re-excavation of Heronry Pond in 1905-1906 (Elsden Tuffs 1973).

Investigations began again when the West Essex Archaeological Group offered its services to the Corporation of London, who manage Epping Forest and Wanstead Park, in 1978 as part of the centenary celebrations. The then Superintendent of Eppinq Forest Mr. A. Qvist asked if the Group would endeavour to locate the Roman remains. Accordingly records were searched as detailed above. At this time the Forest authority was repairing Heronry Pond and were to instal a pump and lay a pipeline to lift water from the Perch Pond. A detailed report on the lake system of Wanstead Park, in particular the problems associated with the Heronry Pond was produced in 1978 (Berry & Cornish 1978). Although the Group was notified of the date and Mr. F. Harvey attended, the operation was delayed and the pipe trench dug later. Much Roman material was thrown up including tile and pottery. However the opportunity to examine a section was lost. In 1983 the West Essex Archaeological Group commenced systematic excavations adjacent to the pipe line and conducted resistivity surveys (Clark 1985 pp.1-2).

Bibliography

Berry J. & Cornish, A. 1978: The Lake System of Wanstead Park and the Mystery of the Heronry Pond.
Chown, C.H.I. 1927: The Lethieullier Family of Aldersbrook House Park II. Smart Lethieullier. Essex Review Vol. XXXVI pp.1-21.
Clark, F.R. 1985: The Lost Roman Villa at Wanstead. West Essex Archaeological Group Newsletter No. 10 pp. 1-2.
Collinson, P. 1760: Obituary of Smart Lethieullier. Gentleman's Magazine Vol. XXX pp.394 & 443.
Dawson, O.S.c. 1910: The Story of Wanstead Park.
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