Nos. 165 – 205 Bath Road, Totterdown, Bristol. Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief Report. BRSMG 2020/13, AAL Report No: 20-21.358 ©Avon Archaeology Limited: May 2021
The excavations at Nos 165 – 205 Bath Road have revealed a complex archaeology and history. Although medieval pottery was recovered from buried soil, no associated features were observed, suggesting that the site was undeveloped throughout this period. The earliest structural remains relate to the post-medieval road surface constructed from compacted stone fragments. Following the establishment of the Bristol Turnpike Trust in 1727, the site was developed further, including the upgrading of the road surface and the construction of a toll house. Furthermore, during this period facilities for a ferry crossing, observed as compact slipway surface to the north-west of the site, appears to have been developed. It is unclear from the archaeology if this ferry crossing was extant prior to the 18th century. In the early 19th century the road was ‘McAdamised’ and further changes and repairs were made to the toll house. Following the relocation of the road to its current position in 1834, the site was used for industrial purposes, primarily the maintenance and repair of lighter barges. It continued to be used for this purpose until the later 20th century and the construction of a petrol garage.
In many ways the archaeology recorded on the site, which is overwhelmingly post-medieval, is unsurprising given its location. It has shown the development of road building technology from essentially medieval methods, utilising nothing more than thick stone dumps, to the more sophisticated formally laid roads of the 18th century, through to the birth of the modern McAdam system. The excavation has also revealed the interconnected transport infrastructure of the developing city, where formerly boats and ferries played a far larger part than they do today.