Royal Horticultural Society, Chelsea Royal Hospital, Chelsea Flower Show 2000, New Marquee, NGR TQ 2830 7800: Archaeological Watching Brief Report

The Oxford Archaeological Unit (OAU) carried out a watching brief during the groundwork in advance of construction of o new marquee for the Chelsea Flower Show 2000 at Royal Chelsea Hospital (NGR TQ 2830 7800). The work was
undertaken in August and September 1999. The watching brief was commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society at the request of English Heritage, as the site of the
new) marquee overlies a late 17th century formal garden designed by Christopher Wren. A series of trenches for drainage were excavated by contractors. Some slight
traces of the formal and later kitchen garden known on the site were identified as soil layers at the base of the trenches, and deposits associated with the late I7th - I9th
century canals that once flanked the causeway leading to the River Thames were identified. Localised spreads of late post-medieval pottery were recovered from beneath substantial make-up layers of soil and clay; these were laid when Chelsea Embankment was constructed in the 19th century. Of note was a row of modern concrete blocks adjacent to the causeway,. Their function is unclear, but they may have supported some kind of structure or acted as anchors for barrage balloons in either of the world wars. The remainder of the features compromise 19th and 20th century service pipes and drains.