Site Event/Activity record ESF24344 - Excavation, Orwell Quay (UCS), Duke Street, Ipswich, (IAS 9013).

The site is located within the former floodplain of the River Orwell, to the east of the Ipswich Wet Dock. Natural sands and gravels were recorded at a maximum (truncated) height of 3.50m OD in the eastern half of the site, sloping down to the west. The natural strata are overlaid by a 'worked soil' horizon derived from the local brown sands. It contains small amounts of medieval pottery. A large, cellared building, possibly a merchant's warehouse, was built in the eastern part of the site in the 17th- or early 18th century. It was constructed of brick and stone, the latter including re-used architectural mouldings of 14th-century date. In the 18th century the building was sub-divided and converted to domestic use. Various alterations were recorded, including the laying of new floors and the installation of fireplaces, a new entrance and a sub-floor drainage system. The building is thought to be part of White's Cottages, recorded as early as 1746 and perhaps shown on Ogilby's map of 1674. The western (riverward) part of the site remained within the inter-tidal zone of the river until the early 19th century, when the Commissioners of the River Orwell reclaimed the land to create a new ballast wharf. Extensive dumped deposits relating to this period of activity were recorded. In the 1840s the site was acquired by Robert Ransome for an extension to his nearby ironworks. Extensive remains of the Orwell Works survive, including foundations, cellars, drains, flues and brick-built channels. Project status: Complete Yes, Validated Yes Previous/Future Work: Previous No, Future No Associated Identifiers: HER event no. IPS 601 Sitecode IAS 9013 NMR No. 1523095 Project Type: Field evaluation Development Type: Public building (e.g. school, church, hospital, medical centre, law courts etc.) Methods and Techniques: Targeted Trenches, Sample Trenches Position in the Planning Process: Between deposition of an application and determination Reason for Investigation: Planning condition Monument Type(s)/Period(s): ENGINEERING WORKS Post Medieval , ENGINEERING WORKS Modern, BUILDING Post Medieval Artefact Type(s)/Period(s): POTTERY Post Medieval , POTTERY Medieval , WORKED STONE Medieval PROJECT LOCATION Area 17670.00 Square metres Grid Reference: TM1708143804 Point PROJECT CREATOR(S) Brief originator: Local Authority Archaeologist and/or Planning Authority/advisory body Design originator: K. Wade Director/Manager: Rhodri Gardner Supervisor: Kieron Heard DIGITAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County SMR ID: IPS 601 / IAS 9013 Contents: Animal Bones, Ceramics, Glass, Metal, Stratigraphic, Survey Media: Database, Images raster / digital photography, Survey, Text PAPER ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County SMR ID: IPS 601 / IAS 9013 Contents: Stratigraphic Media: Context sheet, Matrices, Photograph, Plan, Report, Section PHYSICAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County SMR ID: IPS 601 / IAS 9013 Contents: Animal Bones, Ceramics, Glass, Metal BIBLIOGRAPHY Publication Type: Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript) Title: Post-excavation assessment report: UCS Orwell Quay, Ipswich, Suffolk Author(s)/Editor(s): Heard, K Other Bibliographic Details: SCCAS report number 2009/087 Date: 2009 Issuer/Publisher: Suffolk County Council Place of Issue or Publication: Ipswich Description: A4, wire bound, 110 pages