Site Event/Activity record ECH6682 - Site Visit to Old Quay House and Old Quay

A low brick retaining wall with sandstone top course was visible to the south of the main quay and house area at SJ28647660. This appears to be a continuation of the wall adjacent to the quay and enclosing or defining the western side of the garden. The sandstone appears to be the top course of this wall and is consistent with the ground level on the eastern (landward) side. The bricks are consistent with those recovered from the site of Old Quay House and used in the construction of the quay/garden wall to the north. The surviving section of the quay/garden wall adjacent to the house has been reduced in height to the ground level on the eastern (landward) side when compared to historic photographs of the site (see 2). A thin concrete render has been applied to the top and western face. A modern path surface is evident on the western side of the wall, but is faced by long thin sandstone blocks similar to the ones observed on the section of wall to the south. It is uncertain as to whether this is an original feature or opportunist re-use. Notably the southern and eastern garden walls survives as a below ground archaeological feature and earthwork overlain by a hedgerow. The later quay structure is clearly visible and the stonework observed would be consistent with the recycling/reuse reported in other sources. The section of garden wall here is ashlar sandstone with sandstone coping stones and is notably of better quality construction. Features such as gate posts, the stone stile etc., visible in historic photographs (see 2), are still extant, though the quay structure is in poorer and less complete condition. The site of Old Quay House survives as a substantial earthwork comprising a rubble and earth overgrown with scrub. The earthworks are defined on their southern side by a modern drainage ditch. Unfortunately, undergrowth and scrub made the site difficult to interpret. The brick in the area of the house appears to be late sixteenth to early seventeenth century in date and hand made (Edwards J pers comm). In places substantial fragments of brickwork survived bonded together, but not insitu. One brick bonded to a substantial piece of slag was also observed. Low walls survive in the area of the barn, but it is difficult to ascertain if these walls are associated with the barn or one of the other outbuildings in this area depicted on historic maps. The brick here is substantially later, probably nineteenth century.