archaeological and historical background prehistoric There is only limited evidence for prehistoric activity: a number of Neolithic and Bronze Age artefacts have been recovered from ‘the Thames off Greenwich’ including Neolithic axes and a sickle, and a Bronze Age palstave. Antiquarian observations recorded a Bronze Age barrow cemetery at Greenwich Park. roman The Roman period saw an increase in activity in Greenwich. The port of Londinium, visible from Greenwich Park, was growing in the central London area, and the landscape around the city was being utilised, along major road and riverine arteries. There is evidence for settlement in Greenwich; falling river levels during this period probably meant that much of the Greenwich peninsula could have been habitable at this time. A 3rd-century amber glazed jar and vase, which are thought to have been part of a ship’s cargo, were recovered in alluvial deposits off Blackwall Point, and a tessellated pavement and axe were recorded near Trinity Hospital. A possible religious complex has been excavated in Greenwich Park. early medieval The Bronze Age barrow cemetery in Greenwich Park may have been reused during the early-mid Saxon period, and the place-name is derived from the Old English meaning the ‘green’ wic or ‘trading site’, indicating early medieval activity. The settlement place-name also gave its name to the hundred. There were two, possibly three manors; at least one of each was held by the Crown by the 10th century when charter evidence records the grant by King Edgar of land in Greenwich and other nearby areas to the Abbey of St Peter in Ghent. The scale and exact location of the Saxon (pre 11th century) settlement is unknown, however it is likely to have been centred further west near the confluence of the Deptford Creek and the main channel of the Thames. The 11th century village lay very much in a ‘frontier zone’ and 1012 saw the martyrdom of St Alfege, the Archbishop of Canterbury, by Danish forces encamped in the Blackheath area. late medieval Greenwich is recorded in Domesday, which describes an estate amalgamated from two manors, one of which was formerly held by King Harold. There were four mills, meadow and pasture land with woodlands for pigs. It is interesting that no fisheries are recorded at this date. William the Conqueror had soon seized the manor and documentary evidence indicates royal patronage at a chapel of the Virgin Mary in the early 14th century. There is little archaeological evidence for the later medieval village however, the recent discovery of a 12th century tidal mill structure on the peninsula indicates eastward growth of the settlement. Henry IV dated his will in 1408, from his manor of Greenwich, and Henry V granted this manor for life, to Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter, who died here in 1417. It was granted soon afterwards to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the King's uncle, who in 1433, had a Royal Licence to fortify and embattle his manor-house, and to make a park. The Duke rebuilt the palace, and built within the park a tower on the spot where the observatory now stands. Upon the Duke of Gloucester's death, in 1447, the manor reverted to the Crown. The estate was granted by Edward IV to his consort Queen Elizabeth in 1466, and during the late 15th and early 16th century, the palace of Placentia was the birthplace of a number of Tudor monarchs including Henry VIII, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. The remains of a jetty possibly associated with the Tudor palace have been recorded on the foreshore. post medieval Greenwich Palace remained in royal hands during the early 17th century and was further developed by the Stuart queen consorts, Queen Anne and Queen Henrietta Maria. It was briefly held by Oliver Cromwell during the mid 17th century and reverted to the Crown upon the Restoration. By 1705 the rebuilt palace had been converted to a hospital for seamen, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The hospital closed in 1869, and between 1873 and 1998 it was the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. The site is now administered by the Greenwich Foundation. To the east of the Naval College buildings, Trinity Hospital was built in 1613-17. This is next to the massive brick walls and the metal jetty of Greenwich Power Station, built between 1902 and 1910.

thames discovery programme Greenwich Palace FGW04 The zone is approximately 550m long and 50m wide at its greatest extent. The access to the site area is good with three sets of stairs; two in front of the Royal Naval College and one at the downstream end of the zone. They are all in reasonable condition but can be very slippery. The zone extends from the Greenwich Ferry jetty to the former Power Station jetty. The ground conditions on the site are very firm and generally the site is very safe.

A101 Riverfront defence Stone. Ashlar A102 Access Stair. Stone. Steps covered. A103 Furniture Sign. Reused stone set in river facing side of A101 A104 Furniture Sign. Flood markers on land side of A101 A105 Riverfront defence Timber. Line of posts A106 Timbers Scatter of nautical timbers. Shipyard scatter. A107 Jetty Metal. Decorative piers and capitals A108 Gridiron Timber. In front of Highbridge Wharf A109 Access Slipway. Stone/concrete A110 Riverfront defence? Timber. Line of posts. A111 Agradation Mud A112 Agradation Mud A113 Hard Chalk, stone and brick. Several phases? A114 Riverfront defence? Stone. A115 Access Stair. Stone A116 Riverfront defence Timber. Line of numerous posts A117 Agradation Mud A118 Access Jetty? With baseplates and piles A119 Artefact scatter Ceramic. Domestic pottery A120 Structure (unclassified) Brick. Possibly in situ. A121 Riverfront defence Timber. Line of posts.