HC Deb 28 February 1973 vol 851 cc363-5W
Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what archaeological records were made of the stratification visible in the sides of the guide trench, and what evidence was

Mr. Rippon

The panel's report states that the loss of housing arising from the Greator London Council's original primary road proposals would amount to some 16,600 dwellings. Table 1 of the inquiry support paper S12/355, reproduced below, shows the estimated housing loss for each of the London boroughs for two periods up to 1991.

The panel says on page 455 that while it is unable to give specific estimates, it expects that the housing loss arising from its own road proposals would be somewhat smaller.

recovered for dating the process of accumulation, and particularly its earliest levels immediately overlying undisturbed natural levels, in New Palace Yard;

(2) if undisturbed levels were removed in the guide trench and recorded by his staff in New Palace Yard;

(3) if he will make available in the Library of the House the section drawings of the stratification observed in the guide trench, and drawings and details of finds on which the earliest levels have been dated, in New Palace Yard.

Mr. Channon

During the digging of the guide trench for the diaphragm wall of the car park the sequence of stratified deposits overlying the natural levels was examined carefully and recorded according to the standard methods employed on all modern excavations.

The exact date at which the marshland underlying New Palace Yard became dry enough to be habitable is still uncertain, no artifacts having been recovered from the earliest levels: an environmental study is in hand to throw more light on this problem.

Westminster Hall was built on the edge of this marshland in the later 1090s. By the thirteenth century the ground level in front of the Hall had risen by some 30 cm. Thereafter the level continued to rise, as a result of the repeated re-metalling of the yard, until 1835 the debris from buildings destroyed in the great fire was spread across the yard to a depth of one metre bringing it to its final level.

This sequence is dated from the thirteenth century onwards by sparsely scattered sherds of pottery. Within the guide trench no artifacts earlier than the thirteenth century have been found.

When the excavations on the site are complete and have been fully studied I propose to arrange for an exhibition of drawings, photographs and artifacts.