ENGINEERING structures last seen more than 100 years ago will soon be reconstructed at Morwellham Quay, thanks to an archaeological dig currently taking place at the ancient port. A team of volunteers led by Morwellham site archaeologist Robert Waterhouse has been working on an old railway cutting at the quay, uncovering previously unknown detail regarding the railway?s construction ? and a unique glimpse into domestic life in the area at the beginning of the last century. Robert said: ?We?ve been carrying out a full excavation of the approach to part of the tunnel, which carried the Devon Great Consols railway underneath the village green and the Duke of Bedford cottages. ?The railway ran from the mine for about four-and-a-half miles down to Morwellham, but the last half mile was on an incline, where a steam haulage engine used to haul up the loads. ?The railway was constructed in 1858 and closed in 1903. We?ve been finding imprints of the timbers which supported the railway, sleepers and the like, in the ground, so we can work out exactly the line ? it?s rather like the ghost of the railway.? Robert said the team had been working on the project for about two months now. ?We now know a great deal about how they put their railways together. This one is actually very unusual, it?s a type of railway that no archaeological excavation has ever taken place on before. ?It?s the type of railway the Great Western Railway broadgauge used, but this isn?t broadgauge, it?s standard. ?We don?t know why they used this method, it?s a bit of a mystery.? Robert said in addition to the 19th century construction methods, the team was also learning about life unconnected with the railway. ?We?ve found an awful lot of domestic rubbish, smashed china and glass etc, which was thrown into the cutting when it was abandoned. It gives you a snapshot of what people had on their tables in the early 20th century,? he said. Robert said he was very pleased with the way the dig had gone ? the next stage of the project will be to reconstruct a section of the line. ?Hopefully this time next year we should have the railway and the mouth of the tunnel looking exactly as it did in 1903. There?ll be about 50 yards of it and the first 20 ft of the tunnel, so it should look as if the tunnel continues under the green,? said Robert. ?Seeing that is going to be really exciting. I first visited Morwellham when I was ten years old in 1979, when the first restoration work had been done. I remember looking up at this slight depression in the hillside where there was a notice saying ?This is where the tunnel was?. ?For the last 28 years I?ve wanted to see what?s there ? now I can, and it will be even more exciting to see it as it was before it was demolished.? In addition to the railway reconstruction, excavations will start on the Great Dock at Morwellham next month. Anyone who would like to get involved in the archaeological work being carried out at the quay should call 01822 832766. Volunteers will be made very welcome ? the only requirement is they should be adult and reasonably fit.
