Hippodrome, Rex Cinema

June 1937

HIPPODROME SITE

Before giving the history of "The Rex" site, I should like to report the discovery of a round tower in Hales Street, at the corner of White Street, where sewering has been in progress. This tower was built on wood piles, and stood within twenty yards of the square tower discovered about three years ago. Its size would compare with the one mentioned last month, in St. Agnes Lane. It was probably a watch tower. As the sewer excavating does not go deeper than the top of the wood piles, I did not get the opportunity of finding any tools or weapons. Very little came from the site except a few pieces of pottery, and part of a tile of the 14th century.

"THE REX" SITE

Many are the disappointments I have to meet with in my researches, and the pile driving of the present day is one - although it is in no wise as prevalent to-day as it was in the days when this site was originally filled in, except that to-day reinforced concrete is used, but in mediaeval times wood piles of all shapes and sizes were used.

This site was once the extensive lake called Bablake, and from its depth, varying from 10 feet to 14 feet, I had hoped I might find a boat of the early British period, hewed-out from the trunk of a tree, as three years ago, within about twenty yards of this site, I discovered a boat paddle of this period at a depth of sixteen feet, and only about forty yards from where we discovered a wood ford, or bridge, which is thought to be Roman.

About a hundred large holes were to have been dug had not pile-driving been used instead. However, a large hole had to be excavated for heating apparatus, and this gave me a chance of finding out something of the early methods The lake evidently had not been filled in to its present 14-ft. at one time, but to about 6-ft. in the 14th century, which formed the river course, as part of it is seen to-day.

Where this excavation was made, large piles had been driven in, and had formed a cattle shed, which while yet standing, had been covered over to a depth of another six or seven feet. In several test holes which had been sunk a number of 14th century boots were unearthed, and also a quantity of the black unglazed pottery of the Saxon period. In some places near Corpora-tion Street the butchers had made a bone tip, and thousands of bones were found, with great quantities of horns.