Overview of the Dredgings from the Harbour

In June 2004, TCA first became aware of the planning application by the Christchurch Harbour Association to carry out dredging in the harbour at two sites. One of these proposed sites was at Tuckton Bridge, and the second was in the main channel, off Blackberry Point on Stanpit Marsh. The proposed dumping place for the arisings from the first site was the spit at the end of Hengistbury head, whereas the arisings from the second site were to be dumped on Grimbury Beach. TCA became were interesting in the dredging proposals, particularly for the site off Stanpit Marsh because of the conjectures of an ancient causeway or ford negotiable at low tide across the river from Hengistbury Head, and leading to the freshwater spring at Tutton’s Well. A report in the Christchurch Times of April 1928 tells of a local Christchurch man removing ‘stones from a submerged trackway’ from the river because of their danger to navigation. Although the current dredging site is not on the reputed line of the causeway (said to run from Double Dykes on Hengistbury Head towards Tutton’s Well), TCA made a representation to CBC to be allowed to view and inspect the spoil as it was dumped on Grimbury Beach. We are grateful to Christchurch Harbour Association for granting us this permission. We also were able to use a metal detector on the spoil heap to search for metal artefacts, by special permission of the Countryside Service Warden (but note that in general any digging on Stanpit Marsh is not allowed, so metal detecting is usually pointless). The dredging brought up a number of small irregularly shaped pieces of limestone, clearly not local features. Possibly they represent jettisoned ballast or cargo, and more will probably be revealed as the spoil heap is overwashed and dispersed by the tide. Innumerable metal objects were discovered, notably mooring weights of various sizes and fishing weights. Some animal bones were discovered, probably beef. Interestingly, given the ironstone extraction which took place on Hengistbury Head, we made a provisional identification of piece of iron-working slag, which showed up on the metal detector. We have also noted that ironstone pebbles sometimes give an indication on the metal detector. Our one ‘treasure’ was a 1948 George VI penny which came out of the ooze as bright and shiny as when it was minted.