Morwellham Quay - Archaeological Excavations

'Lost' Dock on Limekiln Quay - 2002

The first excavation in the current programme of archaeological work at Morwellham, this trench was designed to locate a dock constructed at the western end of the limekiln quay in 1787-91 and backfilled between 1846 and 1867 (see site plan).

The dock outline was confirmed, although its stone side walls had largely been robbed out. Various sequences of infill material alternated with severely sagged layers of coal dust, indicating that the fill settled several times up to 1869 when the quay was largely abandoned. A mortared stone wall was built across the fill by 1867, probably as a yard for storing limestone or coal. The filled dock was subsequently used as a soakaway for various pipes and culverts, including some rather modern and smelly ones!