Morwellham Quay - Archaeological Excavations

Manganese Dock - 2008

Part of the stripping exercise carried out on the quay edges in early 2008, required by the Health & Safety Executive, the Manganese Dock was shown to have originally been built longer, with a tapered form typical of 18th century Tamar Valley river docks designed to take barges bow first. Subsequent dredging in Summer 2008 showed it to have been at least 3m deep, meaning that the barge decks would have been below quay level at low tide. This would have been an important consideration during loading of barges with heavy commodities.

The unloading side seems originally to have been on the west, with a set of finely dressed granite edging slabs and a granite crane base. Again a thick layer of limestone chippings and coal dust showed the quay to have been used principally for the lime and domestic trades, although iron pan had formed to the rear, suggesting that ore was heaped there at times.

The Manganese Barn was built between 1846 and 1867 in the filled in northern end of the dock, recycled quay edge slabs being used in its quoins. A thin mortar layer found on its west side was probably deposited during construction. Large amounts of early-mid 20th century agricultural scrap found here was probably associated with the re-use of the barn as a tractor garage and workshop in the 1960s.

Postholes for trestles supporting the 1858 overhead railway were found here, lining up with blocked holes in the gable end of the building, showing that the railway was attached to the building, probably to aid its stability where it ran close to the quay edge.