Millbay Docks Millbay Road Plymouth

Home , Great Western Railway, Millbay

MILLBAY DOCKS

MILLBAY ROAD

PLYMOUTH

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF AND HISTORIC BUILDING RECORDING

For

MORRISON CONSTRUCTION

CA PROJECT: 3097 CA REPORT: 10188

FEBRUARY 2011

MILLBAY DOCKS MILLBAY ROAD PLYMOUTH

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF AND HISTORIC BUILDING RECORDING

CA PROJECT: 3097 CA REPORT: 10188

prepared by Mark Brett, Senior Project Officer, Peter Davenport, Senior Publication Officer

date 18 February 2011

checked by Laurent Coleman, Project Manager

date 21 February 2011

approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts

signed

date 21 February 2011

issue 01

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

© Cotswold Archaeology Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

2. RESULTS ...... 8

3. DISCUSSION...... 10

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 12

5. REFERENCES ...... 12

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 15 APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM...... 16

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of wall 105 and gate 107 (1:1250) Fig. 3 Wall 105, looking north-east. Scales both 1m Fig. 4 Gate 107, detail, looking south. Scale 1m Fig. 5 Overall view of the exposed elements of the 1858 Inner Basin gates, 107, looking south-east. Scale 1m Fig. 6 Plymouth Great Western Docks Plan, c.1880 Fig. 7 Aerial view of Millbay Docks from the south-east, 1961 Fig. 8 Blocked original entrance to Inner Basin (between arrows), looking south Fig. 9 Remains of dock gate, dredged from Inner Basin. Scale 2m Fig. 10 Swing-bridge pit, eastern side of entrance to Inner Basin, looking south Fig. 11 Swing-bridge pit, the central pivot chamber, access and ram chambers, looking north-west Fig. 12 Swing bridge pit, looking east: the southern supports for east end of the bridge arm when closed. The iron grill protected the pit edge from road traffic Fig. 13 Swing bridge pit, general view, looking north-west Fig. 14 Remains of timber piles, dredged from Inner Basin. Scale 2m

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

Fig. 15 GWR (Swindon) Design Drawing no. 11 for the swing bridge at Millbay Dock, dated 1896 Fig. 16 GWR (Swindon) Design Drawing no. 4 for the new entrance into Millbay Dock and the blocking of the old one, dated 1897

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

SUMMARY

Project Name: Millbay Docks Location: Millbay Road, Plymouth NGR: SX 4680 5410 Type: Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording Date: 7 May – 7 June 2010 Planning References: 09/01507/FUL and 09/1506/LBC Location of Archive: To be deposited with Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery Accession Number: AR2010.13 Site Code: MLB 10

Archaeological watching brief and building recording were undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during engineering works associated with the repair and refurbishment of quay walls and revetments at Millbay Inner Basin and Clyde Quay, Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth.

The watching brief identified the blocking of the original entrance to the Inner Basin of 1857, as well as the western end of the eastern wall of the entrance and the original dock gates which were incorporated into the new section of wall when the entrance to the dock was moved in the late 19th century. In addition, the watching brief recorded the remains of two large wooden gates that were dredged from the Inner Basin. These are thought to represent either the original lock gates which were damaged and sunk during a storm in 1858, or, more probably, those associated with a graving dock located on the western side of the Inner Basin. A section of long, timber piles braced together with iron rods and plates was also recovered and recorded.

The building recording survey recorded the remains of the Swing Bridge Arm associated with the relocated entrance to the Inner Basin and the walls of the entrance itself. Great Western Railway (GWR) engineering office design drawings for the bridge and the new entrance to the dock were located and provided further details no longer extant.

No finds were recovered during the programme of archaeological works.

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Between May and June 2010 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an a programme of archaeological works comprising a watching brief and building recording for Morrison Construction at Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth (centred on NGR: SX 4680 5410; Fig. 1). The archaeological watching brief and building recording was undertaken to fulfil a condition (no. 2) attached to a Listed Building Consent for repair and recording works to some of the Listed walls of the Clyde Quay, Inner Basin (Planning ref: Plymouth Council 09/01506/LBC). The objectives of the watching brief were to preserve by record any archaeological deposits within excavations associated with the redevelopment and to ensure that the agreed foundation scheme was adhered to. The objective of the building recording was to produce a record, written, drawn and photographic, of the buildings and structures in their current state, prior to redevelopment. The brief also required an assessment of the readily available documentary evidence for the site. This consisted of the consultation of information held at the Plymouth Historic Environment Record; historical documents held at the Plymouth and West Devon Records Office; information held by the Local Studies collection of the Plymouth City Library and consultation with the Maritime Heritage Officer at Plymouth Museum.

1.2 The assessment of historical sources, the watching brief and building recording were carried out in accordance with the Brief for an Archaeological Watching Brief and Recording Programme issued by Plymouth City Council (PCC 2009), and with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2010). The watching brief was also undertaken in accordance with the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA 2008), whilst the building recording was carried out in compliance with the Standard and Guidance for the Archaeological Investigation and Recording of Standing Buildings or Structures (IfA 2008) and Understanding Historic Buildings: A Guide to Good Recording Practice (EH 2006). The works were also undertaken in accordance with the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE) (EH 2006).

The site 1.3 Millbay Docks are located to the east of the Stonehouse Peninsular c. 1.5km to the west of the historic core of Plymouth. Further docks and harbours are located to the

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

west (Stonehouse and Devonport) and the east (Sutton Harbour and Cattewater). The engineering works extended over an area of approximately 4.5ha, comprising the Inner Basin at Millbay and associated structures. The site is bounded to the east by East Quay, to the south by the Outer Basin, to the west by the Ferry Terminal and to the north by North Quay and Millbay Road (Fig. 2).

Archaeological and historical background 1.4 No recorded archaeological work has been carried out on the site prior to the current project, but documentary and published sources and information from the Maritime Heritage Officer, Plymouth Museum, allow the following summary.

1.5 Millbay originated as a natural inlet, lying to the south of a large area of marshland recorded in early documents as the ‘Sourpool’. The earliest documentary sources record the erection of a mill at the neck between the Sourpool and the inlet in the 12th century. This mill appears to be the origin of the name Millbay, and probably remained in existence until the 18th century (Langley and Small, 1987). A 1796 landscape watercolour records two small buildings across a causeway in the north- eastern area of the inlet, which may be these mill buildings (Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (PCMAG) collection). The Sourpool was drained in the 16th century, concurrently with the construction of Union Street across the former marshland (Langley and Small 1987).

1.6 Drake’s Leat, constructed in the late 16th century, brought fresh water to Plymouth from the River Meavy, to the north. The course of the leat extended from the river, was tapped by several mills, and emptied into the Millbay inlet, probably along the eastern quay, within the site (Langley and Small 1987).

1.7 Plymouth was besieged as a Parliamentary stronghold during the civil war, and the town’s other harbours further east (Sutton Harbour and the River Cattewater) were within range of the Royalist batteries on Mount Batten, to the south. Millbay was the nearest natural harbour out of range. Hollar’s1643 map of the Civil War siege-works is the earliest documentary evidence for its use as a harbour and it remained in use throughout the war (PCMAG collection). No port features or jetties are recorded on this source, and it is likely that any such features were temporary.

1.8 Following the end of the Civil War, the main flow of marine traffic reverted to the traditional harbours to the east, and Millbay returned to being a small inlet (Langley

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

and Small 1987). The south-western area of the inlet (approximately in the area of the north-west corner of the Inner Basin) was used as a dockyard by John Smeaton during the construction of the Eddystone lighthouse in the late 18th century (PCMAG collections, map of 1788). The south-western side was further developed for small marine traffic during the construction of the Georgian Longroom and the Marine barracks, which lie to the west of the site (PCMAG collections; view of 1796).

1.9 The earliest evidence for substantial dock development at Millbay is from Elliott’s 1825 map of Plymouth, which records the ‘Union Dock’ in the north-eastern area of Millbay, bordered by Martin and Phoenix Streets (PCMAG collections). This small triangular facility appears to have been short lived, and was filled in by 1849 (map of that year, PCMAG collections). No further information on this dock was available, and the area is now a modern development. Dockyard development also took place along the eastern quay, which was made necessary by continuing limestone quarrying at West Hoe, requiring barges to transport the extracted mineral. The quarry owner, Thomas Gill, opened an access channel in the south-eastern area, near to what is now the Trinity Pier, and established a canal and some limited dock facilities. This facility was filled in during the 1870s (Langley and Small 1987). Gill was also behind the construction of the Millbay Pier in 1844 at the entrance to the bay, the first of the large steamship piers at Millbay, which was later joined by Trinity Pier and Brunel’s pontoon (ibid). Millbay Pier is situated outside of the site to the south.

The Great Western Docks 1.10 In the mid and late 19th century, the need for larger dock facilities led to proposals for a large floating harbour and dry (graving) dock, as well as associated piers and jetties. After several schemes were rejected (including one by Rendel in 1837), design works by Isambard Kingdom Brunel (Brunel 1851-4) commenced in 1846, and construction followed. Langley and Small, suggest that this was shortly afterwards, but the design drawing dates suggest not until 1854 or shortly before. Construction involved the creation of a temporary dam across the basin, allowing construction of the retaining wall for the floating harbour. Part of this dam was retained adjacent to the eastern dock wall to form the Trinity Pier. The dock was completed in 1857, although the gates were damaged and sunk during a storm in 1858, and then replaced (Langley and Small 1987). The gates were single and did not form a lock, meaning traffic could only enter the Inner Basin when the water levels had been equalised, which would be from mid flood to mid ebb tide. Brunel

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

also designed a floating pontoon to facilitate dock traffic, which remained in place until 2005, before being broken up (Passmore 2005). The installation of railway lines to all parts of the dock was completed by 1880 (Fig. 6).

1.11 The original entrance into the Inner Basin was situated towards the east, requiring an awkward turn to enter the harbour. In 1896 work began on designing a new, more central entrance, complete with lock gates, to allow access to the basin at any time; and a powered swing bridge, all of which seem to have been completed in 1902 (Figs 15 and 16). The old entrance was blocked up, but the blocking had to be renewed in 1906 (drawing labelled GW1 “Millbay Docks Inner Basin, Elevation and Section of Old Entrance” has an annotation pointing this out; supplied by Buro Happold, no further reference, not illustrated).

1.12 The harbour saw significant use during WWII, and was heavily bombed. A large area of the western floating harbour was infilled after 1961 (compare Figs 2, 6 and 7), leaving the floating harbour slightly over half its original size. A modern ferry terminal was constructed in the western area of the outer dock (partly over the site of the graving dock) in the late 20th century.

1.13 Part of one wall of the 19th-century dock was identified during geotechnical works undertaken in 2009 (PCC 2009).

Methodology 1.14 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2010). Documentary sources were consulted during the archaeological works and an archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks associated with repair works to the south and east walls of the Inner Basin and the Clyde Quay wall. Observations were also made by an archaeologist following dredging operations and artefacts that were recovered were recorded accordingly. In addition, building recording consisting of a written, drawn and photographic record of the existing Swing Bridge Arm and associated dockside features was undertaken prior to demolition (Fig. 2).

1.15 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007). For the structural record, work undertaken was based on the principles in Understanding Historic Buildings (EH 2006).

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

1.16 The archive from the archaeological works is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. The site archive will be deposited with Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery under accession number AR2010.13. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix B, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-4, 6-13)

2.1 During excavation work associated with repairs to the south wall of the Inner Basin, a 6m length of the western end of the original eastern arm of the southern wall, 105, was revealed, to a height of 2m. This comprised four courses of limestone blocks, each measuring approximately 1m in length and 0.5m in width and depth (Fig. 3). The stones were smooth dressed and bonded with grey mortar. The south-western corner of the wall was rounded and it was sealed initially by mortar layer 106 and then concrete 104, to a depth of 1m. These structural remains were in turn abutted by the modern dock wall 103 and make-up layer 102. Concrete layers 100 and 101, together 0.4m thick, sealed the structural sequence.

2.2 The ends of a pair of closed wooden and iron gates 107 were revealed within the southern side of the excavated trench, to the south-east of exposed wall 105 (Fig. 4 and 5). Less than 1m of the length of the eastern gate was revealed, whilst approximately 5m of the western gate was exposed, to a height of 1m. The gates appeared to be constructed from large square-cut timbers encased along the sides and top in iron plate. A large iron chain was found attached to the end of the western gate. Part way along the western leaf a cast iron attachment with a threaded post was also seen. This might have been the top of a screw-operated paddle sluice, but could have been the attachment for an arm for closing and opening the gate (Fig 5).

2.3 Dredging works within the Inner Basin recovered the remains of two further lock gates (Fig. 9), together with the tangled remains of associated iron strapping. These gates were in a poor state of preservation and only the hinge post of one was recovered, whilst the remains of the other comprised the hinge post, top and bottom rails, and diagonal bracing timbers. Joints where they could be seen were mortise and tenon. The rest of the frame had been broken off, apparently before dredging. Both hinge posts still had their cast iron pivot blocks/joint strengtheners and that on the better-preserved one had a forged, one-piece, iron reinforcing plate on the joint of the diagonal braces to the hinge posts. These were held in place by large bolts.

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

An interesting feature was the use of longitudinal and transverse iron tension- bracing rods alongside the main timbers, tightened with end nuts. One of these, although tangled and bent, was complete, and allowed the estimation of the original length of the gate leaf at c. 11.6m or 38’. These braces were complemented by diagonal composite braces of rod and strap section that could be tightened with turn- buckles. There was no indication of how the gate frame was clad, but all the bracing would have been hidden inside the wooden or iron cladding. From top to base, the gates measured approximately 5m.

2.4 Another forged iron box with bolts through it, open on two sides, was also dredged up, associated with much tangled iron strapping.

2.5 Also dredged from the Inner Basin were the remains of three wooden piles, braced together with iron rods and clasps. The individual timbers were square in section and measured approximately 12m in length and 0.5m in both width and breadth.

2.6 The swing bridge designed in 1897-8 and built in 1902 across the basin entrance had been removed before the beginning of the watching brief, but the granite-edged and brick-walled turntable pit (Fig. 11) and the similarly-constructed chambers for the turning machinery were evident. Some elements of the machinery were present but most of it had been removed. The running rail for the inboard end of the bridge still survived but was hidden under developing turf, and the cast iron supports for this end when the bridge was in place were still evident (Fig. 12).

2.7 A photographic record of the remains was made and some of the photographs have been used to illustrate this report (Figs 10-13). The rest are in the archive. Measurements were also taken and these and careful comparison confirm that the bridge was built in very close conformity to the design plans by W. G. Armstrong and Co. Ltd (GWR drawing no. 11 stamped as no. 46408, dated 1896 with annotations in 1898, Fig. 15). This detailed, scaled plan with cross-sections shows all the present details, with dimensions, and partial indications of the machinery now removed. The bridge itself is noted has having undergone some revisions from this drawing, but the plan can be taken as a measured record of what was built in the ground, including the abutment on the western side of the dock entrance.

2.8 A design drawing for the new entrance and the blocking of the old shows the proposed extension to the quay wall to house the swing bridge when open (GWR

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

drawing no. 4 stamped as no. 46408 [presumably a packet number as it duplicates Drawing no 11], and dated 1897, with annotations in 1898, our Fig. 16). This was either not carried out, as the present design is different, or it was altered later. The former seems more probable as other major changes involving a reduction of the height of the dock entrance walls by 4’ (1.2m) are also indicated. The earlier design saw the southern end of the extension rising back to the level of the rest of the quay, beyond the recess for the open bridge arm, while the current end of the quay drops even lower, reached by what appear to be original granite steps.

2.9 Photographic records were also made of the elevations of the dock entrance and particularly of the extension southwards to house the open swing bridge. The basic construction closely reflected the designs of 1897 but was four feet lower than the original proposals, as well as differing at the south end as described above. Elements of the lock gate machinery and fittings such as the massive hinge blocks and hydraulic rams for opening the gates were still present at the time of recording.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The programme of archaeological works associated with the repair and refurbishment of quay walls and revetments at Millbay Docks has identified the eastern side of the original 1857 entrance to the Inner Basin through the main basin wall, as well as the two dock gates, associated with this entrance, closed and preserved within the fabric of the blocking, when the entrance was moved westwards in 1902 (Figs 3-5). The archaeological work has also provided a photographic record of the extent of the original blocked entrance, which remains visible from the northern side of the existing dock wall (Fig. 8). This usefully supplements the drawings of 1897-8 showing the proposals for blocking (referred to above) and a further drawing of 1906 showing more details of the work (carried out in 1902) which had failed and needed repair (referred to above). The joint study of these drawings and the archaeological records has considerably enhanced the value of both.

3.2 Information on the construction and characteristics of the 1858 gate were also retrieved. The possible identification of paddle sluices on the gates is of some interest as nothing else is known about the water management systems in the original dock (although presumably entrance into the Inner Basin was only possible

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

when water levels had been equalized, as the gates were a single pair and did not form a lock). The function of the chains is unclear, although the two different sizes of chain are presumably significant. The hinges were not seen, but were very probably similar to the cast-iron pintle or harr hinges seen on the dredged gate remains. This same technology, massively reinforced, was used in 1902.

3.2 The archaeological work also recorded the remains of two further gates which were dredged from the Inner Basin during operations associated with the current repair and refurbishment works (Fig. 9). It was not possible to determine absolutely with which entrance these gates were associated. Their construction appears broadly similar to those of the original blocked entrance to the Inner Basin and it is probable that they represent either the original gates destroyed in a storm in 1858, only one year after the dock was officially opened (Langley and Small 1987), or of those in the entrance to the graving dock. This was situated on the western side of the Inner Basin and infilled after 1961. An origin in the Graving Dock is, nonetheless, more likely, as it seems improbable that the gates damaged in the storm would have been dumped, or allowed to remain, in the Inner Basin. In addition, while the estimated width of the gates would allow either hypothesis to be entertained, the height of only 5m rather strongly suggests that they were used in the Graving Dock. The entrance to the Inner Basin was over 8m high, base to coping, and in addition, 5m is only barely more than the difference between high and low spring tides as marked on the 1897 design Drawing no. 4.

3.3 The exact date of the gates found in situ and of those dredged from the inner basin remains a little unclear. The ones in situ ought to be dated to after 1858. In any case there might not be much difference in type, only, one would imagine, in some strengthening. The graving dock gates would be protected from such weather and are likely to be the originals of 1857, a life of just over 100 years being quite reasonable. The rather crude construction also looks more appropriate to the mid- 19th rather than the later 19th century. The isolated forged box is probably the capping for the meeting posts of the gate leaves (para 2.4 above). The relative sophistication of the design of these gates, with the tensioning rods and stays, raises the issue of whether they are the result of Brunel’s engineering skills, but there is no direct evidence for this.

3.4 Also dredged from the Inner Basin during the current works were the long timber piles (Fig. 14). It is likely that these may have originally lined the inner walls of the

11 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

Inner Basin, or at least vulnerable areas, to minimise damage to both the walls and vessels in the event of any contact between the two.

3.5 Comparison of the remaining structure of the swing bridge and the design drawings (Figs 15 and 16) has shown that the bridge, or at least the elements apart from the bridge arm, which is no longer extant, were built closely following the design of 1896-8 and do not seem to have undergone any significant changes since completion in c. 1902. Consequently, the design drawing (see para 2.7 above) can stand alongside the photographs as a record of the now-demolished swing bridge. While the quay walls have suffered serious movement, the swing bridge substructures are in relatively good condition, a tribute to the massive engineering brick and granite block construction. Figs 10-13 show the condition in 2010, and are samples from the more extensive record in archive. The mechanism of the bridge had been removed and is only indicated in a ghosted form on the drawing. However, it appears that two hydraulic rams in the north-west radial chamber each turned a pinion, presumably via a rack and that these pinions engaged a spur wheel on the bridge pivot to turn it 900 to open it. The small chamber at the end of this radial chamber and outside the turntable pit was the feed-in point for the hydraulic power, but the power source for the hydraulics was not apparent. The same source presumably provided the power for the rams which operated the lock gates, one of which was still in situ nearby.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Hazel O’Neill and Peter Davenport. The report was written by Mark Brett and Peter Davenport. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Peter Davenport, and prepared for deposition by James Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Laurent Coleman.

5. REFERENCES

Brunel, I. K. 1851-54 Specification and Pricing for Inner Dock, Two Warehouses, Pontoon and Landing Stages and the Construction of a Railway at Millbay. (PWDRO ref 59/1)

12 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief and Building Recording.

Langley, M. and Small, E. 1987 Port of Plymouth: Millbay Docks, Devon Books

Passmore, A. J. 2005 Archaeological recording of a 19th-century Pontoon at Millbay Docks. Exeter Archaeology typescript report

PCC (Plymouth City Council) 2009 Proposed Repairs to Listed Dock Walls and Other Works at Millbay, Plymouth: Brief for an Archaeological Watching Brief and Recording Programme.

Stuart, E A Armada Maps of Plymouth

Design Drawings

GWR (Swindon) Design Drawing no. 11 for the swing bridge at Mill Bay Dock, dated 1896 GWR (Swindon) Design Drawing no. 4 for the new entrance into Millbay Dock and the blocking of the old one, dated 1897

Abbreviations: PCMAG: Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery PWDRO: Plymouth and West Devon Record Office

Cartographic sources 1539 Untitled chart of the harbours of southern England (PCMAG, original held in the British Library) 1590 Spry’s Plot of the leats of Plymouth (PCMAG) c.16th Century Map showing the mill at Millbay (PCMAG) 1643 Hollar’s Map of Civil War Seigeworks (PCMAG) c. 1796 A View of the Longroom and Baths (PCMAG) 1788 Plan and Description of Smeaton’s Workyard at Millbay (PCMAG) 1799-1979 Association of British Ports (ABP) Collection (PWDRO ref 3411) c.1825 Elliott’s Map of Plymouth (PCMAG) 1837 J. M. Rendel’s Design for a Floating Dock (PWDRO ref 4/10) 1845 Plan of the Plymouth Great Western Docks (PWDRO ref 3259/2) 1849 Map of the Three Towns of Plymouth (PCMAG)

13 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

1857 Engraving of the Graving Dock at Millbay (PCMAG) 1857 Engraving of the Floating Dock at Millbay (PCMAG) c. 19th Century Plan of Plymouth waste leat (PWDRO ref 874/55/5) 1856 Ordnance Survey 1:600 Town Plan of Plymouth (PCMAG) 1863 Chart of Plymouth Great Western Docks (PCMAG) 1872 Engraving of Millbay Docks, from the London Illustrated News (PCMAG) 1879 Plan of the Plymouth Great Western Docks (PCMAG) 1880 Plan of the Plymouth Great Western Docks (PCMAG) 1894 Ordnance Survey 1:600 Town Plan of Plymouth (PCMAG)

14 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 100 Layer Concrete. 0.15 101 Layer Concrete. 0.25 102 Layer Hardcore make-up. <0.5 103 Wall Existing Inner Basin wall. N/k 104 Wall Concrete. 1.05 105 Wall Western end of eastern arm of original entrance >6 3.6 >2 to Inner Basin. Limestone blocks bonded with grey mortar. 106 Layer Brownish yellow mortar. <0.05 107 Structure(s) Lock gates. Constructed from timber and iron. N/k

15 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth

Short description Archaeological watching brief and building recording were undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during engineering works associated with the repair and refurbishment of quay walls and revetments at Millbay Inner Basin and Clyde Quay, Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth.

No finds were recovered during the programme of archaeological works.

Project dates 7 May – 7 June 2010 Project type Watching brief and building recording. Trial trenching undertaken in 2009 (contractor unknown).

Previous work Unknown.

Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, City of Plymouth, Devon Study area (M2/ha) 4.5ha Site co-ordinates NGR SX 4680 5410

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Plymouth City Council Historic Environment Team

16 © Cotswold Archaeology Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Historic Building Recording

Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Laurent Coleman Project Supervisor Peter Davenport PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of Content: archive: Paper archive and digital Plymouth Museum and CD Art Gallery

Physical No finds Paper Context sheets, permatrace drawings, registers, monochrome photograph contact sheets. Digital Digital photographs BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Millbay Docks, Millbay Road, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief and Building Recording CA Typescript report 10188

17 Reproduced from the 2005 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

0 2.5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Millbay Docks, Millbay Road Plymouth FIGURE TITLE Site location plan Plymouth

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:25,000@A4 3097 1 Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey digital mapping with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

467 468 469

MILLBAY RO

EAST Q

UAY

541

site FILLED IN AREA OF INNER BASIN area of observed groundworks INNER Fig. 14 BASIN archaeological feature Fig. 8 direction of photograph

Fig. 9

Fig. 8

wall 105

CROSS CHANNEL modern dock wall 103 Fig. 4 FERRY CAR PARK Fig. 3 exposed section of Fig. 5 gates 107 540

Fig. 10

Fig. 11 Fig. 12 swing bridge

Fig. 13 OUTER COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

BASIN PROJECT TITLE Millbay Docks, Millbay Road SXSX Plymouth FIGURE TITLE The site, showing location of walls 103, 105 and gate 107 DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. 0 100m LG 1:1250@A3 3097 2 3

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY 3 Wall 105, looking north-east. Scales both 1m PROJECT TITLE Millbay Docks, Millbay Road Plymouth FIGURE TITLE Photograph

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 3097 3 4

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY 4 Gate 107, looking south. Scale 1m PROJECT TITLE Millbay Docks, Millbay Road Plymouth 5 Overall view of exposed elements of 1858 Inner Basin FIGURE TITLE gates, 107, looking south-east. Scale 1m Photographs

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 3097 4 & 5 COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Millbay Docks, Millbay Road Plymouth FIGURE TITLE Plymouth Great Western Railway Docks Plan, c.1880 DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG not to scale 3097 6 7

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY 7 Aerial view of Millbay Docks from the south-east, 1961 PROJECT TITLE Millbay Docks, Millbay Road Plymouth 8 Blocked original entrance to Inner Basin (between FIGURE TITLE arrows), looking south. Photographs

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 3097 7 & 8 9

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY 9 Remains of dock gate, dredged from Inner Basin. PROJECT TITLE Scale 2m Millbay Docks, Millbay Road Plymouth FIGURE TITLE 10 Swing-bridge pit, eastern side of entrance to Inner Photographs Basin, looking south DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 3097 9 & 10 11

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY 11 Swing-bridge pit, the central pivot chamber, access PROJECT TITLE and ram chambers, looking north-west Millbay Docks, Millbay Road Plymouth FIGURE TITLE 12 Swing-bridge pit looking east: the southern supports Photographs for the eastern end of the bridge arm when closed. The iron grill protected the pit edge from road traffic DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 3097 11&12 13

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY 13 Eastern side of swing-bridge, looking north-west PROJECT TITLE Millbay Docks, Millbay Road Plymouth 14 Remains of timber piles, dredged from Inner Basin. FIGURE TITLE Scale 2m Photographs

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 3097 13&14 COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Millbay Docks, Millbay Road Plymouth FIGURE TITLE GWR (Swindon) Design Drawing no. 11 for the swing bridge at Mill Bay Dock, dated 1896

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:1250@A3 3097 15 COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Millbay Docks, Millbay Road Plymouth FIGURE TITLE GWR (Swindon) Design Drawing no. 4 for the new entrance into Millbay Dock and the blocking of the old one, dated 1897 DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG not to scale 3097 16