Archaeological Investigations at 84-88 Millbrook Road East, Southampton (SOU1629)
Andy Russel, Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit, 2016. https://doi.org/10.5284/1037863. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Dr
Andy
Russel
Archaeology Unit Manager, Ancient Monuments Officer, and War Memorials Officer
Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit
18 Melbourne Street
Southampton
SO14 5FB
Tel: +44 (0) 2380 832022
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 2240
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1037863
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
The aim of the investigation was to make a record of the building before demolition and then rescue any archaeology before construction work.
The building consisted of five phases. The earliest, in the south-east of the site, was built sometime between 1840 and 1883, and was a large brick-built industrial structure with a basement. It may have been built as a cattle food factory. The second building, situated in the north of the site, was built by 1909–1910. Kelly’s directory lists the occupiers as The Clayton Bottling Co Ltd from 1907. By 1947 Building 3 a single-storey double-height building, had been added, joining the previous two. By then, the complex extended to the south boundary of the site, probably incorporating parts of some late 19th/early 20th century buildings there. Between 1948 and 1953 the two-storey Building 4 was added to the north west, probably by Stranger’s Ltd, Mineral Water Manufacturers. The building remained in use as a mineral water and fruit squash factory until it became a warehouse in the 1970s, when the north and west facades were partially rebuilt (Building 5) to give the building a more unified appearance, and buildings against the south boundary were demolished.
The evaluation found two ditches on the south edge of the site marking the edge of fields above a break of slope. The fills contained high and late medieval pottery together with some of iron slag. In the north-east part of the site a number of shallow ditches enclosed an area that contained patches of burnt soil with sherds of high medieval pottery. The pottery had sooted exteriors and some food residue so had been used in a domestic environment rather than being the result of pottery production. It is likely that the remains represent a field shelter used by agricultural workers.
