An archaeological program of monitoring and recording and a historic building recording was carried out by Oakford Archaeology between January 2024 and October 2025 at Middle Dock, Appledore, Devon. The works comprised historic building recording of the former boatshed, as well as monitoring and recording of the foundations for the new marine innovation centre covering an area of approximately 3,850m�. The work has provided no evidence of medieval or earlier activity, with all the finds dating to the period 18th-20th century. The earliest deposits recorded contained no dating evidence and have been interpreted as either mudflats or tidal depositional deposits. These are likely to date to the late post-medieval period on balance, and the site was gradually reclaimed from the tidal foreshore in the mid-19th century. A new boundary wall, enclosing the site was probably built following the creation and re-alignment of New Quay Street sometime in the 1850s or early 1860s. The building was a substantial three storey former warehouse within the Middle Dock site, its size reflecting a large and prosperous maritime commercial establishment. The layout of the former warehouse perpetuates that of similar buildings surviving in Bideford and Barnstaple and was probably first constructed as a three-storey warehouse in the mid-late 19th century. It was designed with wonderfully round-headed, segmental brick arches to the door and window openings on the ground floor, showing that aesthetic considerations were as important as the functionality of the building. The large ground floor openings in both long elevations, facilitated loading and unloading from the nearby dockside, with ample storage on the first- and second floor above. The exact nature of the storage activities taking place inside are unclear during this period. Although it has been suggested that it may have served as a tobacco warehouse, it is on balance likely that it may have stored a multitude of goods at any one time. Despite many later alterations, the building remains substantially as it was at this time. A small number of alterations and additions were undertaken in the late 19th or early 20th century with minor changes to the western windows at first- and second floor level, the blocking of a window at the eastern end, the creation of a round window or oculus in the south elevation, and the insertion of a small square opening on the ground floor of the north elevation. These changes likely reflect the changing needs and activities taking place inside the warehouse at the time. The most extensive alterations were carried out in the late 20th century when the building was extensively altered with much of the east elevation demolished and a new full height opening created, the removal of the original first- and second floor stairs and floors, the blocking of the original door and window openings, and the insertion of new doorway openings in the south and north elevations. At this period a small single storey building was built against the southwestern elevation of the former warehouse, while a single storey lean-to extended almost the full length of the south elevation. Further made ground deposits within the central and southern half of the site likely relate to extensive changes to the Middle Dock in the late 20th century and the construction of new industrial buildings to the south of the former warehouse. Finally, a small assemblage of 23 objects dating from the 17th-20th century, primarily coarse wares and industrially produced pottery sherds, was recovered from the excavations. The work has provided no evidence of medieval or earlier activity, with all the finds dating to the period 18th-20th century. The earliest deposits recorded contained no dating evidence and have been interpreted as either mudflats or tidal depositional deposits.
Sargeant et al. (Thu,) studied this question.