Date: 1833
The site of the ancient 'Oyster gate' was identified by cart-loads of oyster shells being found on the spot.  This place had been hid in the reign of Elizabeth, by build ing what Stowe calls the artificial f order or engine for increasing the supply of Thames water to the metro polis, and which was succeeded by the late Water works.  In digging at the greatest depth on this site, there was turned up part of a leathern sandal,* sin gularly looped on the sides, which had been apparently lost in the mud ; also some fragments of Roman pot tery, and a few coins.