This River Wall at Queenhithe Wharf Forms Part of the Tidal Flood

CONSERVATION The foreshore at Queenhithe Wharf helps to support the 350 species of invertebrates and QUEENHITHE 115 species of fish which can be found in the River Thames. The foreshore, the area Queenhithe was a thriving Saxon and medieval between Low and High Water Mark, dock and is the only inlet surviving along the represents the most ecologically important City waterfront today. area as it provides somewhere for algae to grow, a home for invertebrates, feeding In AD 886 the Roman City was reoccupied by grounds for birds and spawning areas for fish. King Alfred the Great, the City walls providing some protection from Viking raids. King Alfred The foreshore habitat in the City of London is established the first harbour here at ‘Ethelred’s severely constrained by urban development. Hythe’. It is recorded in contemporary charters We have been careful not to disturb this as a trading shore, where goods were sold fragile environment during construction works directly from beached boats. The harbour was by limiting our works on the foreshore. known as Queenhithe after Queen Matilda, wife of Henry I, was granted the dues from the dock The timber fenders on the face of the wall in the early 12th century. This right was have been kept as they contribute to the inherited by successive English queens. By the biodiversity of the river by allowing a base for 13th century it had become the principal dock seaweeds and invertebrates. for handling grain and other foodstuffs to feed London’s growing population. However, the Gammarus zaddachi, th dock declined in the 15 century in favour of a typical estuarine shrimp, the better facilities for larger vessels at and two mudsnails, viewed Billingsgate downstream of London Bridge. under the microscope View of Queenhithe flour wharf Charles Tomkins, 1801 The inlet of Queenhithe is clearly visible on the ‘Agas’ woodcut map of 1561–70 FLOODING Archaeological excavations beneath the After the 14th century waterfronts began to be buildings behind you revealed evidence of built in stone, which lasted much longer, and the This river wall at Queenhithe Wharf forms part Roman quays, King Alfred’s trading shore and process of reclaiming land slowed down. By the of the tidal flood defences protecting the City of the succession of medieval waterfronts, each 18th century most of the waterfront in the City London from flooding. If any section of the walls one reclaiming more land from the Thames. had reached the modern alignment. along this stretch of river were to breach it would cause considerable flood damage to Most of these structures, known as Today, remnants of the Victorian use of the property and major disruption to transport and revetments, were wooden and they have been riverfront and port can be seen at low tide on the infrastructure. The Environment Agency, along well-preserved in the waterlogged conditions. foreshore beneath you. These are barge beds, with the City of London, have strengthened and Some were built using timbers recycled from constructed to level and stabilise the foreshore for improved the wall at Queenhithe Wharf to buildings and ships, giving archaeologists a berthing flat-bottomed barges, which transported reduce the flood risk to people and property. very rare opportunity to study Saxon and goods to and from the warehouses lining the The design of these improvement works has medieval woodworking techniques and to date waterfront in the 19th and 20th centuries. been guided by English Heritage, who required them accurately by analysing tree-ring growth. the appearance of this scheduled ancient monument to be maintained. The design ensured The river silts and reclamation dumps that minimum disturbance was caused to the associated with these waterfronts have archaeology and ecology of the wharf. produced finds in remarkably good condition, particularly metal objects. The strengthened river wall was opened by Alderman Gordon Haines in Summer 2008. Timbers from an aisled hall reused as part of the 11th century quay at Queenhithe 19th century barge beds are still visible at low tide today Timbers laid to help prevent erosion and flooding in AD 1050 next to the Saxon dock.

Load more