Archaeological Excavations at Southampton New Arts Centre, Above Bar Street, Southampton (SOU1634)
Archaeology South-East, 2016. https://doi.org/10.5284/1037860. How to cite using this DOI
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This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Nicola
Bettley
Archive Officer
Archaeology South-East
Units 1 and 2
2 Chapel Place
Portslade
BN41 1DR
UK
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 2131
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1037860
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
The excavations revealed evidence for multi-period activity on site. The Middle Saxon remains were limited to one corner of site, probably due to the level of truncation elsewhere. They comprised pits and a single ditch, probably all agricultural in origin. Very few finds were retrieved from the features. The medieval period was also poorly represented on site with only severely truncated pits belonging to the period. Despite the lack of features, a number of residual finds of medieval date were found, as well as a later wall foundation either constructed from reused medieval limestone, or a wall of medieval date itself, incorporated into a later building. The post-medieval period was far better represented on site, with structural remains as well as pitting dating from the mid 17th or 18th centuries. The alignment of structural remains, unlike any later buildings does not follow the line of Above Bar Street but travels north-east across site. The 19th century remains on site consisted of a series of basements and a drainage system associated with Georgian villas known from cartographic sources. These cellars were extensive, despite heavy truncation and also appeared to contain some indications of wealth including marble cladding. From the early 20th century the site saw an increased change in land use as business replaced residential properties. A range of shops was built in the west of site in the early 20th century before these and a large part of the Georgian villas were destroyed by bomb damage in World War II. A significant construction scheme in the 1960's saw the site occupied by a large department store which remained in use until demolished early this century. The data set contains two final reports, digital photographs and a survey drawing.
