Element record MCC9287 - Timber revetment at Cannock Mill, Old Heath Road, Colchester, 2016

Summary

Trench/test pit T8 next to Cannock Mill revealed the remains of a timber revetment driven into natural alluvium, tentatively interpreted as the remains of the wall of the waterwheel pit (or possibly a leat?).

Location

Grid reference TM 0109 2381 (point)
Map sheet TM02SW
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

T8 was excavated through a series of modern make-up layers (L6, c.650mm thick) onto a redeposited dirty brown/grey clay (L7, c.700mm thick). At a depth of c.1.35m below modern ground level, L7 overlaid blue/grey alluvial clay (L3) which had the scars of a wooden revetment surviving it in (F11). No wood survived, just the dark outline where the wood had once been. The trench was too small and deep to allow for further investigation. Finds directly above F11 suggested it was covered over in the 19th century.<1>

The excavators suggested the revetment is probably associated with the 19th-century mill rather than an earlier structure (although dating is not certain) based on the following reasons:
1) the revetment is parallel to the standing building, approximately 3.3m away from the south-east wall.
2) In the only existing photograph of the mill that shows the waterwheel (taken in 1952), the wheel is shown housed in a timber structure, approximately 1.5m wide so it is feasible for the width of the wheel pit to be larger to accommodate the water from the overshot pipes and to aid in channelling it away.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Evaluation Report: Pooley, L.. 2016. Archaeological evaluation at Cannock Mill, Old Heath Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8AA. CAT Report 917.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Apr 7 2016 11:21AM

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