thames discovery programme

Strand on the Green FHL12

The zone is approximately 510m long and 55m wide. The access to the site
area is very good as there are numerous sets of stairs leading directly from
the riverside path to the foreshore surface. Most are in reasonable condition
but some are poorly maintained and may be hazardous to use. The zone
extends from Kew Bridge to just beyond the Railway Bridge and includes
Oliver’s Ait. The ground conditions on the site are very firm and generally the
site is very safe.

archaeological and historical background

prehistoric
Evidence for prehistoric activity dating to the Neolithic / Bronze Age has been found to the west of
the site near Brentford, in excavations on waterfront sites and in the form of riverine artefacts.
Over a hundred human skulls were reportedly found in the Thames opposite Strand-on-the-Green
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during the 19 century, and an Iron Age bowl has also been recovered from the river.

roman
The site was located just to the south of the road from Roman Londinium to Silchester (Calleva
Atrebatum), which passed through a small settlement, probably a a mutatio or posting station, at
Brentford. At the time the road was probably the principal route from London to the west, and was
the precursor of the medieval and post-medieval routes, which survive today as the A315 and
parts of the Roman road were found during excavations in Brentford. There is no evidence for
activity of this period in the immediate vicinity of the Strand on the Green foreshore zone.

medieval
There is evidence for both Saxon and medieval activity in the Brentford area, with a significant
settlement around Brentford Bridge by the later medieval period. From 1306 Brentford had its own
weekly market. However, areas to the east and closer to the Thames may not have been
intensively occupied and archaeological investigations at Kew Bridge House have revealed deep
alluvial deposits dated to the 15th century. The place name ‘Strande’, for the settlement along the
shore, is first recorded in 1353.

post medieval
The medieval village economy was probably centred around fishing, however during the 17th
century, the construction of high status housing on the opposite bank at Kew and the growing
importance of the ferry crossing point meant increasing development at Strand on the Green.
Local legend also relates that Oliver’s Ait is so named because Oliver Cromwell used the island as
a hide-out and held military councils at the Bull's Head during the English Civil War. Malthouses
were established by c 1700 and a number of public houses were constructed along the river’s
edge: the Ship and the Bull's Head had both been licensed by 1722, the Bell and Crown and the
Indian Queen by 1751, and the City Barge by 1786. Until 1759, the only way to cross the Thames
at this point was two ferries owned by Robert Tunstall; the foot ferry for pedestrians ran just west of
the present Kew Bridge (the second ferry point lay further west again). However, with the royal
palace at Kew increasing the importance and popularity of the area and with greater volumes of
traffic, the pressure grew for a bridge to link the main road west from London to Oxford and
Gloucester with Richmond and Kew on the south bank. Construction for the toll bridge began in
1758; it was located about 40m upstream of the present bridge and was built of wood. The first
bridge was superseded by one constructed of stone (along the line of the present bridge) in 1789;
this Georgian structure was in turn reconstructed in 1903. The railway bridge was built in 1869.
The construction of Kew Bridge encouraged the development of both higher status housing and
some industry (such as barge repair yards and the Pier House Laundry) in Strand on the Green.
Oliver's Ait also had buildings, put up after 1777 by the City of London's Navigation Committee.
The first City barge, bought in 1775, and its successor were often stationed there for the collection
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of tolls. The area began a slow decline in the 19 century when the Grand Junction Canal diverted
freight traffic to Brentford, and the royal family moved from Kew to Windsor. Strand-on-the-Green
was described in 1932 as "London's last remaining village". Scenes from the Beatles' 1965 film
Help! were shot in the City Barge pub and in the local area.
A101 Access Stair. Concrete and timber construction. Possibly of 2 Phases
A102 Watercraft Rudder. Metal and Timber construction. Modern
A103 Watercraft Keel. Wood with metal false keel. With vessel plank fragments.
A104 Furniture Sign. Stone. Boundary marker 1868.
A105 Furniture Winch. Iron early 20th C.
A106 Structure (unclassified) Timber. Piled store of used timbers not nautical
A107 Watercraft Frame. Timber
A108 Standing building Foundation. Brick and concrete for boatyard
A109 Standing building Foundation. Concrete
A110 Mooring feature Block. Concrete
A111 Standing building Foundation. Concrete and Brick
A112 Standing building Foundation. Brick
A113 Flood defence Concrete.
A114 Access Stair. Modern timber and steel Stairs in front of Ship Cottage
A115 Access Stair of stone, brick and concrete (several phases of construction). Downstream of Ship Cottage. In front of 53a.
A116 Access Stair in front of City Barge PH. Concrete. Poor condition, overgrown with foliage.
A117 Access Stair of brick and stone with metal railings outside the Bull's Head PH
A118 Gridiron Concrete with mooring posts.
A119 Wharf Possible landing stage or wharf (for 19C malthouse?)
A120 Access Stair of Yorkstone, outside No 1 Strand on the Green.
A121 Access Stair. Stone and brickwork. Remains of Stair in front Zoffany House.
A122 Flood defence Remains of ?Tudor or ?Dutch brickwork.
A123 Access Stair. Stone Stair outside the Bell and Crown PH.
A124 Drain Outfall.
A125 Access Stair. Concrete Stairs set in river wall. Poor condition.
A126 Access Stair. Concrete Stairs set in river wall. Poor condition.
A127 Access Causeway. Remains of Causeway- concrete.
A128 Access Stair. Stone Stair.
A129 Bridge Kew Bridge
A130 Bridge Kew Railway Bridge
A131 Furniture Railing outside the Bull's Head PH