NHER 61441 (Find Spot record) - Medieval/post-medieval, post-medieval to modern, World War Two and undated objects, North Sea

This record details archaeologically significant material recovered during off-shore dredging within Aggregates Extraction Licence Area 401/2. These discoveries were reported to English Heritage/Historic England through the Marine Aggregate Industry Protocol for Reporting Finds of Archaeological Interest. See (S1) and (S2) for further details on the protocol. See NHERs 69598 and 69602 for information on additional, poorly-located finds that were potentially from Licence Area 401/2.

July 2014. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Arun:
1 modern unidentified iron object with aperture at one end containing small length of thin chain. Possibly a fishing weight or an object that had a role in tensioning cables or chains, or securing them onto a sub-sub tool.
See reporting protocol annual report (S3) for further details. Discovery Report awaited. This object is featured in the Autumn 2014 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S32).
P. Watkins (HES), 16 November 2025.

Pre December 2015. Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69598 for details of poorly-located objects found at Johnsons Wharf, Greenhithe, amongst a mixed load comprising material from both this location and Licence Area 460 (East English Channel Region).
P. Watkins (HES), 15 November 2025.

2018-2019 (exact date unknown at present). Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board Arco Avon:
1 undated animal bone. Identified as the proximal end of a cattle femur and probably not ancient.
See reporting protocol annual report (S28) for further details. Discovery Report awaited. This bone was featured in the Spring 2019 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S33)
P. Watkins (HES), 16 November 2025.

2019-2020 (exact date unknown at present). Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Greenhithe Wharf:
6 modern unidentified metal objects. Most, if not all, had probably originated on a ship - none appear to be aircraft related.
See reporting protocol annual report (S29) for further details. Discovery Report awaited. This finds were featured in the Autumn 2020 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S34).
P. Watkins (HES), 16 November 2025.

2019-2020 (exact date unknown at present). Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf:
6 World War Two era. Identified as three 20mm Hispano or Oerlikon cannon shells, a British 20mm Hispano shell and two 0.303 machine-gun bullets.
1 Cold War era British 30 mm Aden cannon shell.
See reporting protocol annual report (S29) for further details. Discovery Report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

2020-2021 (exact date unknown at present). Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69598 for details of poorly-located objects found at Dagenham Wharf, amongst a mixed load comprising material from both this location and Licence Area 460 (East English Channel Region).
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

2021-2022 (exact date unknown at present). Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69598 for details of three poorly-located cannon fragments found at Clubbs' Denton Wharf, amongst a mixed load comprising material from both this location and Licence Area 407 (South Coast Region).
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

Pre 5 May 2021. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Greenhithe Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/1-2b:
56 World War Two munitions and 12 other metal objects. The munitions have been identified as unfired 2-pounder 'pom-pom' naval gun ammunition. Although found close to the wreck of His Majesty's Trawler Pelton - a requisitioned trawler - this is unlikely to be the source of the munitions as documentary sources suggest its guns were of different calibres. It may be from an unknown wreck that was detected in this area in 1969. The fact the ammunition doesn't appear to have been fired does though mean that it may simply represent a belt that was deliberately ditched or accidentally lost overboard.
See Discovery Report (S4) and reporting protocol annual report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 November 2025.

Pre 13 July 2021. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Greenhithe Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2:
1 World War Two era shell. Identified as a 4-inch British naval shell.
10 undated unidentified metal fragments. Several pieces are potentially aircraft parts but impossible to be certain due to their poor, fragmentary condition.
See Discovery Report (S6) and reporting protocol annual report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 November 2025.

Pre 27 July 2021. Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69602 for details of an object found on board Hanson's Arco Avon amongst material from either Licence Area 401/2 or Licence Area 461 (East English Channel Region).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 9 August 2021. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Greenhithe Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2:
1 post-medieval/modern anchor fragment.
1 World War Two era ammunition clip from American .50 Browning machine gun.
2 Cold War Era 30mm Aden shells. Possibly practice shells these could have been fired by one of a number of post-war jet aircraft (including the Hunter, Jaguar, Harrier and Lightning).
1 modern unidentified zinc or aluminium plate fragment. Possibly a baggage or goods tag.
See Discovery Reports (S7)-(S10) and reporting protocol annual report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 27 August 2021. Off-shore Dredging.
Found on board the Arco Avon amongst material from Licence Area 401/2:
1 modern probable engine fragment. Too badly damaged to be fully identified.
See Discovery Report (S11) and reporting protocol annual report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 8 December 2021. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Greenhithe Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2:
1 ?World War Two era aircraft component. Part of an undercarriage hydraulic unit this was most likely part of a British military aircraft from the 1940s or 1950s.
See Discovery Report (S12) and reporting protocol annual report (S13) for further details. This object was featured in the Spring 2022 issue of the protocol's newsletter (S35).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

2022-2023 (exact date unknown at present). Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Greenhithe Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2:
1 post-medieval iron cannonball. Identified as a Dutch 27-pounder of 17th-century date.
See reporting protocol annual report (S30) for further details. Discovery Report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

2022-2023 (exact date unknown at present). Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Frindsbury Wharf amongst material possibly from Licence Area 401/2:
1 post-medieval/modern metal trinket box. Probably late Victorian or Edwardian.
See reporting protocol annual report (S30) for further details. Discovery Report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

2022-2023 (exact date unknown at present). Off-shore Dredging.
Found during operational sampling at Dagenham Wharf:
1 late post-medieval tile fragment.
1 late post-medieval/modern iron railway dog spike.
1 undatable cattle rib bone.
See reporting protocol annual report (S30) for further details. Discovery Reports awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

2022-2023 (exact date unknown). Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69598 for details of a poorly-located engine fragment found at Frindsbury Wharf amongst material from either Licence Area 401/2 or Licence Area 461 (East English Channel Region).
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

Pre 9 March 2022. Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69602 for details of poorly-located objects found on board Hanson's Arco Avon amongst material from either Licence Area 401/2 or Licence Area 361 (NHER 59967).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 9 May 2022. Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69598 for details of poorly-located objects found at Greenhithe Wharf amongst material from either Licence Area 401/2 or Licence Area 461 (East English Channel Region).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 21 June 2022. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Greenhithe Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2:
1 post-medieval/modern wooden rigging element or other rope protector.
See Discovery Report (S14) and reporting protocol annual report (S13) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 22 July 2022. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Greenhithe Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2:
3 medieval/post-medieval iron cannonballs. All three are likely to be 12-pounder shots, although differences in size suggest one is English and the others Dutch or French.
1 World War Two high explosive shell with live timed fuze head.
See Discovery Reports (S15) and (S16) and reporting protocol annual report (S13) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 8 September 2022. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Shoreham Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2:
1 modern unidentified metal object. Possibly part of an old temperature sensor or heater. Origin uncertain as not necessarily associated with a marine vessel.
See Discovery Report (S17) and reporting protocol annual report (S13) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 17 October 2023. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2b:
1 post-medieval leather shoe sole fragment. Dating to around 1800.
5 World War Two cartridge cases and 1 unfired round. A range of calibres and ammunition types are represented, including .50 Browning Machine Gun rounds and German signal pistol cartridge cases (dated 1935 and possibly fired by downed aircrew).
1 Cold War era cartridge case from 30mm ADEN aircraft cannon.
See Discovery Reports (S18) and (S19) and reporting protocol annual report (S31) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 30 October 2023. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2b:
1 post-medieval/modern leather shoe sole fragment. Late Victorian to early 20th century in date (c.1870-1920).
1 World War Two cartridge case. For .50 Browning Machine Gun round.
1 modern metal aircraft component fragment. Exact date uncertain, but most likely from an aircraft downed or damaged during World War Two.
See Discovery Reports (S20)-(S22) and reporting protocol annual report (S31) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 1 November 2023. Off-shore Dredging.
See NHER 69602 for details of a poorly-located World War Two German flare pistol found at Dagenham Wharf amongst material from either Licence Area 401/2b or Licence Area 240 (NHER 51516):
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2025.

Pre 20 March 2024. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2b:
1 post-medieval wooden possible treenail and 1 piece of coal.
1 post-medieval/modern wooden fishing float.
See Discovery Report (S24) and reporting protocol annual report (S31) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.

Pre 4 July 2025. Off-shore Dredging.
Found at Dagenham Wharf amongst material from Licence Area 401/2:
1 World War Two spent casing from .50 cal Browning Machine Gun round.
2 ?World War Two aluminium possible aircraft component fragments.
1 modern aluminium unidentified object. This flat oval object has four fixing holes but no other visible markings.
See Discovery Report (S25)-(S27). Associated annual report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 November 2025.