What? (Themes)
Are you interested in a particular site type or industry on the river?
Use the theme list below to find out more:
Hulks and wrecks
Potentially the earliest boat remains on the river are those of a logboat found in the Upper Hamble in the 1880's. This vessel is yet undated, it represents a type of craft that is surprizingly scare in the Solent.
Perhaps the rivers most infamous vessel remains are those of the Grace Dieu, a Medieval vessel which took the clinker building technique (overlapping planks) to its extreme (HAM053).
Investigating and cataloguing the remain in the inter-tidal zone has revealed a large number of abandoned vessels. Ship and boat remains of all shapes and sizes are represented, importantly many of these are vernacular craft with direct links to riverside activity and industry. They range from wooden vessels of the early 19th century to more modern iron and steel remains. They exist in varying forms from substantially intact to a few remaining frames and a keel. They may be partially buried or substantially buried.
Further survey and research of these hulks should allow more information to be gained about their age, type and function.
List of all hulks, wrecks & ship related sites;
HAM004: Hulk - Lincegrove Marsh
HAM006: Pontoon/ Barge - Lincegrove Marsh
HAM007: Hulk - Badnam Creek
HAM008: Hulk - Badnam Creek
HAM012: Slate mound - Upper Hamble
HAM017: Masted barge - Swanwick
HAM018: Hopper barge hulk - Swanwick
HAM019: Hopper barge hulk - Swanwick
HAM020: Crane barge Hulk - Swanwick
HAM021: Hopper barge hulk - Swanwick
HAM022: Hopper barge hulk - Swanwick
HAM023: Hopper barge hulk - Swanwick
HAM024: Hopper barge hulk - Swanwick
HAM025: Warsash
HAM026: Ham point marina hulk
HAM027: Hulk - Hamble
HAM028: Hulk - Nr Hamble
HAM029: Hulk - Nr Hamble
HAM030: Hulk - Nr Hamble
HAM031: Hulk - Nr Hamble
HAM032: Hulks - Nr Warsash
HAM038: Timber find - Bursledon Point
HAM041: Ferry Shelter Ruin - Warsash
HAM043: Hulk - Nr Warsash
HAM044: Hulk - between Warsash and Swanwick
HAM045: Hulk - between Warsash and Swanwick
HAM047: Hulk - off Bunny Meadows
HAM048: Hulk - off Bunny Meadows
HAM049: Hulk - off Bunny Meadows
HAM051: Hulk - Satchell Marsh
HAM059: Obstruction/ hulk - Satchell Marsh
HAM060: Battleship Mast - off Badnam Creek
HAM061: Hulk - Off Badnam Creek
HAM063: Hulk/s - Crableck
HAM064: Norseman - Swanwick
HAM069: Hulk - s. of railway bridge
HAM070: Hulk - s. of railway bridge
HAM071: Hulk - S. of railway bridge
HAM079: Jane - Faireys Yard, Hamble Point
HAM083: Wreck - Hamble
HAM084: Wreck - Bursledon Point
HAM089: Hulk - Lincegrove Marsh
HAM090: Hulk - Satchell Marsh
HAM092: Hulk - Swanwick
HAM093: Hulk/ wreck
HAM107: Hulk - Satchell Marsh
HAM114: Hulk - Curbridge Creek
HAM119: Timber find - Off Hamble Point
HAM125: Hulk - Gypsy Queen
HAM129: Wreck off Hook Point
HAM136: Wreck - Off entrance to Hamble river
Hards, wharves & landing places
The many shapes and sizes of vessels on the river today require a number of waterfront facilites, this is no different to the situation in the past. It is no surprize that the river banks host a range of quays, wharves, jetties, hards and other constructions for the use of vessels.
There has been little investigation of these waterfront facilities. They have all been constructed as required for different purposes, this was fuelled by the river's industries. The construction techniques employed do not appear to be standardised, but there are features which appear in more than one example.
As a collection these waterfront facilities provide an interesting opportunity for study. Detailed recording and research as part of the Hamble River Project is beginning to allow these structures to be put into context, aiding assessment of watercraft, riverside activity and the development of the maritime landscape.
List of all hards, wharves and landing places;
HAM001: Hoe Moor Creek
HAM002: Dock - Hoe Moor Creek
HAM003: Dock - Hoe Moor Creek
HAM005: Post alignment - Lincegrove Marsh
HAM011: Dock - Dock Creek
HAM015: Stake alignment - Upper Hamble
HAM040: Coopers Hard - Warsash
HAM042: Ferry Hard - Hamble
HAM053: Dock? - Grace Dieu site
HAM054: Slipway - Hamble Point
HAM055: Hamble quay
HAM056: Jetty - nr Bunny Meadows
HAM057: Jetty - South of Swanwick
HAM058: Jetty - Mercury yard
HAM062: Jetty remains? - off Badnam Creek
HAM065: Dock - S. of Swanwick on east side of river
HAM066: Dock - S. of Swanwick on east side of river
HAM067: Jetty - Swanwick
HAM068: Dock/ quay - Swanwick
HAM072: Old slipway - north of the railway bridge
HAM074: Jetty - Eastlands boatyard
HAM075: Post medieval?
HAM099: Burridge Hard
HAM102: Harmsworth Hard
HAM103: Botley hard
HAM109: Dock - Curbridge Creek
HAM112: Hard - Curbridge Creek
HAM118: Timber find - off Hamble point
HAM121: Slipway - Warsash
HAM123: Hard - Warsash
HAM127: Chemical factory hard - Newtown
HAM130: Hook Lake
HAM131: Ships point - Hook point
HAM134: Dock - Satchell Marsh
HAM135: Dock - North of Hamble
HAM139: Quay - south of Hamble village
Shipbuilding & timber trade
Shipbuilding
Traces of shipbuilding activity are present along and adjacent to the shoreline. Early shipbuilding would have been undertaken at any suitable location along the riverbank. Documentary references demonstrate a surge in shipbuilding in the Medieval period, shipyards were probably active at both Bursledon and Hamble.
As part of the Hamble River Project we have been collecting information on ships built on the river. This is not a complete list, we would be greatful to hear about any other vessels that should be added to this list!
Use of the river in prehistoric periods, and a potentially early logboat indicate water craft would have been constructed around the river. Traces of such activity would be more ephemeral, but the possiblity of locating such traces should not be discounted.
Two Napoleonic shipbuilding sites have been subjected to detailed survey, HAM016 and HAM034. HAM016 appears relatively intact, timber elements protrude from the foreshore and further structure lies buried in the mud. The preservative qualities of the inter-tidal sediments should have ensured that these timbers are in good condition. Other sites remain to be recorded, several are identified from maps and charts, many were contemporary and demonstrate the scale of the industry.
Timbertrade
Use of the river has been fuelled by the abundant local timber resources. The felling and transporation of timber for use in shipyards has affected the management of the landscape for over six hundred years. Timber was a vital commodity for many industries. A reference in the late 15th century records show that ash trees were being felled from the Hamble and taken to Southampton by water, here they were loaded onto Venetian trading galleys. By 1577 complaints were being voiced about the excessive amounts of timber being taken from the Hamble.
The use of timber continued and the next period of major drain was during the Napoleonic wars. Towards the end of this period there was a shortage of tall straight trees needed for masts and planking. Timber, particularly pine, was imported from Scandinavia and Canada.
Archaeological evidence of the timber trade is present in several forms. Some timber yards are marked on maps, these would have had associated water front facilities. At Dock Creek we find evidence of wharves lining the riverbanks. This site was used for loading timber, and also from seasoning timber. The riverside here would have been bustling with activity. Other associated remains are earthwork remains of buildings and tracks across the landscape.
Further downstream the shipbuilding yards would have held large supplies of timber for their own construction work. They were also used as timber yards by merchants.
Other 'wood' industries
It is not just the large trees for shipbuilding that are exported, many other products were manufactured. There was a thriving barrel hoop industry at Botley; broom handles, underwood and bavins were also transported by water.
List of all shipbuilding and timber trade sites;
HAM009: Dock Creek/ Dock Copse
HAM073: Shipbuilding yard - North of motorway on
west bank
HAM081: Shipbuilding slips - Swanwick
HAM085: Cottage - Dock Copse
HAM091: Shipbuilding yard - Bursledon
HAM096: Shipbuilding site - Church Creek
HAM100: Timber yard and quay - Pinkmead
HAM101: Timber yard - Curbridge
HAM105: Shipbuilding yard - Hamble
HAM111: Hard - Curbridge Creek
HAM122: Sawpit - Warsash
HAM138: Timber pond - south of Hamble village
Maritime industries
Fishing
HAM039: Lobster Pond - Warsash
HAM078: Oyster midden - Hamble
HAM082: Lobster Pond - Hamble Point
HAM124: Carb moorings - Warsash
HAM137: Oyster beds - south of Hamble village
HAM140: Oyster beds - between Hamble and Hamble
Point
Salt making
HAM088: Salterns - Hamble Point
Brick making
HAM080: Brick kiln site - Down Kiln Copse
HAM094: Hoe Moor Brickworks
Maritime transported goods / etc.
HAM014: Earthworks - Upper Hamble
HAM086: Gravel pits - Bloomfield Copse
HAM087: Gravel pit - Foxburrow Copse
Unclassified sites
HAM077: Badnam Creek
HAM095: River Crossing - Bursledon
HAM097: Bursledon Bridge
HAM104: Drove Road - Hacketts marsh
HAM110: River Crossing - Fork in River
HAM113: Curbridge Bridge
HAM115: Wooden Posts - Hamble Point foreshore
HAM116: Timber Circle - Hamble Point foreshore
HAM117: Timber feature - Hamble Point foreshore
HAM120: 15th century Boom Defence - Hamble
HAM126: Newtown Chemical Works
HAM128: Buidlings on riverside - Warsash
HAM132: Building material Find spot - Hook
HAM133: Sea Defence - Bunny Meadows
