Monument record MLI70189 - Brayford Pool, Lincoln

Summary

Brayford Pool is a natural lake, located at the junction of the River Till and the River Witham, in Lincoln. Its extent was greater in antiquity than at present, with much land being reclaimed since the Roman period.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

The Brayford Pool is presumed to be a natural lake, located at the junction of the River Till (canalised as the Fossdyke) and the River Witham. Its extent was greater in antiquity than at present, and it existed at the time of the Roman conquest (the first syllable of the Roman name for Lincoln (Lindum) derives from the Celtic word for 'lake', 'pool' or 'marshy/water place'). The earliest recorded settlement in this area appears to have been around the Brayford Pool. Extensive reclamation has taken place along the banks of the Brayford pool since the Roman period. An evaluation and watching briefs have been carried out on the southern edge of Brayford pool. No evidence of human occupation was found, but much in the way of environmental information was recovered. The earliest deposits recorded appear to be largely associated with areas of marshland to the west, including layers of peat and other organic horizons. Close to Brayford pool the organic deposits were again revealed though to a much greater depth, probably indicating the wider extent of the original lake. Above this level multiple bands of sand were present, either representing naturally occurring alluvial deposits or later reclamation deposits associated with eighteenth and nineteenth century land use. The remaining deposits revealed during the groundworks all appear to relate too industrial and railway land use dating from the nineteenth century. {1}{2}{3}{4} Environmental sampling at SK 9665 7120 together with radiocarbon dating shows a span of dates for this site of up to 7800 years from the middle Mesolithic until the early medieval period. These deposits represent a major resource for the study of palaeoenvironment through an extended period of prehistory in the region. They also include deposits of up to 1300 years that covers the foundation of the Roman town of Lincoln and its development in the Saxon and medieval periods. The organic sediments infilling the Brayford Pool and its peripheral area are a major palaeoenvironmental sequence. Furthermore a sequence of naturally formed organic sediments on a single site spanning the Roman, Saxon and medieval occupation of a major city in such close proximity to that city have not been found elsewhere in Britain. {5}{6} A detailed investigation and scientific sampling of buried deposits exposed during trial trenching was carried out. Environmental analysis and radiocarbon dating produced results consistent with previous findings: that Brayford pool has a stratigraphy stretching back to at least the late Bronze Age, and that sedimentation was predominantly 'natural' in origin until the late Iron Age/early Roman transition. During this phase, land clearance and arable crop cultivation take over (PRN 70327). {7}{8} An addendum to CLAU's 1994 evaluation was produced. {9} Further environmental sampling was carried out in 2005 at the University of Lincoln media studies building site. Radiocarbon dates from organic silts identified a late 12th to late 13th century medieval watercourse beneath a build-up of sands and pebbles some 3m in depth. Radiocarbon dates obtained from organic river silts 1m beneath the medieval deposits confirmed that the River Till flowed into this part of the Brayford Pool in the late Bronze Age. {10}{11} An auger survey was carried out at the Lincoln Marina site (SK 9695 7126). Deposits relating to the former course of the river Till and its north bank close to where it entered the Brayford Pool were encountered. {12}{13} During an excavation at the site of a new pond (SK 9700 7103), a thick peat horizon was observed. Preserved within the peat were the trunks of large oak trees. Tree ring analysis established that their last year of growth was 966 BC and they appear to have come from a single stand of trees that was engulfed by the peat. Beneath the peat was an in situ prehistoric land surface of sand which produced a large quantity of Mesolithic worked flint, indicative of a temporary site such as a hunting camp (see PRN 70624). {14}{15}

Sources/Archives (15)

  •  Report: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. 1994. Site of Proposed University College of Lincolnshire, Brayford South, Lincoln: Archaeological Recording. UCL94.
  •  Archive: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. 1994. Site of Proposed University College of Lincolnshire, Brayford South, Lincoln: Archaeological Recording. LCNCC 15.94.
  •  Report: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. 1998. Site of University of Lincoln and Humberside, Lincoln - Phase 1 Combined Report. UCLA95; UCLB95; ROA95.
  •  Archive: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. 1998. Site of University of Lincoln and Humberside, Lincoln - Phase 1 Combined Report. LCNCC 11.95; 49.95; 161.95.
  •  Report: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. 2002. Phase 5, Sports Facility, Brayford Pool, Lincoln. UCLF00.
  •  Archive: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. 2002. Phase 5 Sports Facility, Brayford Pool, Lincoln. LCNCC:2000.25.
  •  Report: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. March 2003. University of Lincoln: Architecture, Media and Communications Building.. UCLG02.
  •  Archive: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. March 2003. University of Lincoln: Architecture, Media and Communications Building.. LCNCC 2002.203.
  •  Report: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. 1994. Site of Proposed University College of Lincolnshire, Brayford South, Lincoln: Evaluation Addendum Report. UCL94.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2006. University of Lincoln Brayford Campus East Midlands Media Studies Building: Archaeological Watching Brief. LUMS05.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2006. University of Lincoln Brayford Campus East Midlands Media Studies Building: Archaeological Watching Brief. LCNCC 2005.179.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2007. Land to the south of Brayford Pool, Lincoln: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment. LBM 07.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2007. Land to the south of Brayford Pool, Lincoln: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment. LCNCC 2007.115.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2008. The Pond, Brayford Campus, University of Lincoln: Archaeological Excavation. LUNY 06.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2008. The Pond, Brayford Campus, University of Lincoln: Archaeological Excavation. LCNCC 2006.117.

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Grid reference Centred SK 971 711 (555m by 444m) Estimated from sources
Civil Parish BOULTHAM, LINCOLN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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