Time Team - Shooters Hill, Greenwich, London - Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results

Wessex Archaeology

A geophysical survey was used in an attempt to help locate the remains on Eaglesfield Park and Eltham Common, but the results proved to be limited in usefulness due to high levels of disturbance, although some possible areas of archaeological activity were located.

Most features found during the evaluation proved to be of World War II date, and all five sites proved to have evidence of activity at this time. These included standing structural remains in Oxleas Wood (a probable air raid shelter) and Eltham Common (a spigot mortar base). The remnants of a barrage balloon tether were uncovered at Eaglesfield Park, and a possible anti-aircraft gun emplacement at Oxleas Memorial Hospital. Modern disturbance was encountered on all sites, due to continuing development since the war. Of particular significance may be a possible British Auxiliary Unit operations base within a residential area at Ashridge Crescent, Eaglesfield.

Also of great interest, however, was the discovery at Eaglesfield Park of a ditch containing large quantities of iron smithing slag, associated with Early Iron Age pottery, which is of high significance as a rare example of ironworking at this early date.