Late 17th-early 19th century timber causeway, Sadd's Wharf (EHER 82093)

Trial trenching in 2014 recorded the remains of a late 17th-early 19th century timber causeway, constructed from offcuts from timber processing. It provides a valuable insight into the construction of post-medieval causeways.

May-June 2014. Trial trenching. The evaluation discovered the presence of a probable timber causeway, comprising a series of horizontally placed timbers forming a surface running east to west through Trench 3. The presence of probable timber causeway is extremely interesting. There is overall very little evidence of post-medieval timber causeways so information on their construction, including preferred materials and techniques is rare. What is evident from the timbers that were sent for further analysis is that the causeway was likely made up from offcuts from timber processing. This is evidenced by the presence of bark edges on the timber that would have been of little use for anything else but would have been suitable for use as a stabilising surface on wet ground. Iron fittings were evident on some timbers, and some contained joints which would be indicative of re use. The tree species employed suggests a post medieval date; Oak and Elm were favoured species for wood working which can be evidenced by historic accounts of post-medieval shipbuilding and books written on post-medieval tree planting and timber use. Chapman and Andre's map of 1777 marks the site as marshland, but denotes a causeway crossing the site. All of this suggests that there was a timber industry operating in the vicinity of this area from at least 1777 where the first evidence of the causeway appears in the historic record. This is further backed up by the material evidence collected on site from around the causeway, the earliest of which was dated to the late 17th to early 19th century. The small finds assemblage has provided useful dating evidence for the construction of timber causeway. Unfortunately the analysis of the timbers has not helped to provide an absolute date. <1>