Archaeological Desk Based Assessment at 77-81 Ilderton Road, Borough of Southwark, London, SE16 3JU

Border Archaeology was instructed to carry out an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment with regard to the proposed demolition of the existing complex of buildings at 77-81 Ilderton Road, Borough of Southwark, London, SE16 3JU and the construction of a c.17 storey (c.59.5m) tall residential building with basement. Border Archaeology was instructed to carry out an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment with regard to the proposed demolition of the existing complex of buildings at 77-81 Ilderton Road, Borough of Southwark, London, SE16 3JU and the construction of a c.17 storey (c.59.5m) tall residential building with basement, the results of which can be briefly summarised thus: Prehistoric: The potential for prehistoric remains has been assessed as Moderate to High, with particular reference to encountering palaeoenvironmental deposits, features and finds associated with Mesolithic to Bronze Age activity. This assessment reflects that several investigations within the study area have identified stratified deposits of peat and gravel which have good potential to preserve palaeoenvironmental remains of geoarchaeological significance, including evidence of early prehistoric land surfaces and to contain artefactual remains (including worked flints). Furthermore, the remains of a wooden Bronze Age trackway presumed to have connected Bermondsey Island to the higher ground to its S has been identified within the study area, preserved beneath a peat deposit in the vicinity of Bramcote Green. Romano-British: The potential for Romano-British activity has been assessed as Low to Moderate. This assessment reflects the lack of evidence of Romano-British activity recorded within the study area, though the site is situated within the North Southwark and Roman Road Tier 1 APA which represents a rural hinterland associated with the major Roman roadway of Watling Street (Old Kent Road) running to the SW of the site along with other subsidiary routes. Consequently, there is some potential for encountering evidence of Romano-British roadside occupation and burials although the focus of settlement in this area appears to have been located to the NW, along the banks of the River Thames. During this period, the proposal site appears to have lain within a semi-aquatic, marshland environment prone to flooding and thus was probably not a suitable location for settlement. Medieval: The potential for encountering medieval archaeology has been assessed as Low, reflecting that the paucity of recorded remains from this period identified within the study area. It is likely that the site remained as marshland throughout the medieval and early post-medieval period which was gradually reclaimed for agricultural purposes. There is little evidence for significant settlement activity from this period in the immediate vicinity of the site, apart from a possible manorial site (Coldharbour) recorded about 350m to the SW. Subsequent residential development within the area during the late 19th century may well have truncated deposits and features relating to medieval activity. Post-Medieval: The potential for encountering buried archaeological assets of a post-medieval date has been assessed as Low to Moderate. This assessment reflects the evidence of documentary records and historic mapping which indicates that the site remained as agricultural land until the arrival of the railways in the mid-19th century, following which the site was intensively developed with the laying out of Ilderton Road and the associated grid of residential streets in the late 19th century. The site itself was occupied by a row of two storey residential terraces built at some time between 1874 and 1886, which were heavily damaged by bombing in 1940. These properties were cleared in about 1980 and the existing complex of buildings constructed on the site.