Digging up the dirt on La Trecherie

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During the last two weeks of April, a team from the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton, the UK’s leading maritime archaeological research institution, will join members of the Winchelsea Archaeological Society to conduct an extensive auger and geophysical survey of some of the land on the edge of the River Brede under which, it is believed, lies the harbourside of the medieval port. The plan is to construct a dated profile of the harbourside that will show when and how the port silted. The survey will also cover the former Strand area below the Strand Gate, which was the reputed location of a complex of warehouses, workshops, inns, brothels and possibly shipworks called “La Trecherie”. This will be the first serious study of the port area and, according to the archaeology society, “the most significant and advanced piece of archaeology ever undertaken in Winchelsea”.

While they are in the town, the Southampton team will also undertake laser and 3D photographic scans of the unusual medieval ship graffiti in the rear cellar of Blackfriars Barn. Coincidentally, the only other comparable example is in Southampton. The scans will provide a permanent record of the graffiti, which is rapidly eroding.

It is also hoped that the team will have time to conduct a ground-penetrating radar survey of the church, St Thomas the Martyr, to locate and map the foundations of the long-demolished nave. This will settle once and for all whether the church was ever completed.

Some preliminary results from the survey will be presented at a conference hosted by the society on Sunday April 26. The conference on “Medieval ports, ships and sailors” will bring to Winchelsea some of the foremost experts in medieval archaeology, such as Emeritus Professor David Hinton, and leading maritime archaeologists including Dr Joe Flatman and Prof Jon Adams. It will discuss what we currently know about medieval ports and maritime activity and use this as context for a review of the preliminary results of the survey. The conference will also hear about the results of two recent excavations, one at the former Bridge Inn, which unearthed medieval ship timbers. The conference will be held in the New Hall, Winchelsea, from 10am-3:45pm. The cost is £20 for members of the public, £15 for society members or £10 for students. Bookings can be made and more information obtained by calling 01797 224446 or emailing was@winchelsea.net.

The society would also like to hear from anyone who would like to assist in the survey of the port.

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