Archaeological finds covering the last thousand years
The quay area may have been the focus of any medieval settlement. However more recent changes to the coastline and harbour have disguised the location of the medieval quay and destroyed all traces of tradesmen’s workshops, storehouses, shipmasters' and merchants' houses.
A small priory is also thought to have been located nearby, possibly connected to St Helens Old Church, although no archaeological remains have yet been discovered to support this. However, there is more recent archaeology around Priory Bay with the remains of a sea wall and rusted iron railings.