Cox Street - River Excavations

November 1933

COX STREET EXCAVATIONS (Continued)

At the end of the culvert near the back of the Baths a very interesting roadway was discovered. It was at the depth of about two feet beneath the present river bed, and about ten feet from the surface. It was made of the bones of animals, and about 18-ins. in depth, and 10-ft. in width. A few days later a portion of the city wall was discovered close by, the width being six feet. This wall is the one built about 1480, and for which I had been searching for months, being uncertain of its position. It appears to start direct from the Georgian built houses (which have been a home for countless sparrows in recently stripped ivy) named Spring Grove. The roadway of bones was to make a crossing over the marsh of the river, as the water would filter through, and the builders of the wall would be able to walk over the marsh, on the top of the bones.

It would appear, from the many obstructions that were found in the river, that little notice must have been taken of these in the mediaeval period. Just outside the culvert, and beneath the concrete of 30 years ago, were a number of large piles driven in, but nothing to denote for what purpose they were for laying about two feet beneath this concrete bed was a large willow tree, weighing over half a ton. Near this spot was a large number of both small and large brass pins, several jugs of 14th century, one without glaze and almost complete of 13th century. Several pieces of leather were found, some containing lead studs in scroll pattern, possibly from the riding saddle of a palfrey. Another large piece of leather contained thick whit-leather stitches. This piece has been examined by a saddler, who thinks it has been a leather shield. Again, this may have been connected with Marmion's quarrel on this spot.

Some very interesting buckles were found, one heart-shape, and another with open work in the sides, although it had been cast - it is a mystery how it was done. The pulling down of the river walls show that a great portion was built with stones from the ruins of St. Mary's Church, in 1538. In one or two places under the culvert stone foundations were found; it may be some part of the dam for the working of the Earl's ' Mill. For the present this finishes the story of Cox Street district.