Southampton Archaeology Unit unpublished report series

The Archaeology Unit of Southampton City Council carried out an archaeological watching brief on an extension to the Frewen Library, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth on behalf of their clients, Fitzpatrick Contractors Ltd and University of Portsmouth. The site lay within an area identified by the Portsmouth City Council's Sites and Monuments Record as containing archaeological potential. The watching brief revealed a large feature, interpreted as the outer moat of the post-1665 fortifications, and other features which were probably related to the outermost defensive line of the same date.

The Archaeology Unit of Southampton City Council carried out an archaeological watching brief at 31 - 33 Broad Street, Old Portsmouth on the groundworks for the construction of two terraced houses on behalf of the client G and D Lloyd. Early modern brick foundations, a deposit of animal bones and two stone features, possibly part of the foundations of an earlier structure were found.

Groundworks for the construction of two cabins, an antenna and a mast at Portsdown Technology Park were observed on behalf of Comax Secure Business Services. Trenches exposed natural chalk, a feature and layer of uncertain date, a deposit from the 19th or 20th century, and modern contexts. Ancient remains were not identified at this watching brief but the trenches were small and not every trench reached natural deposits.

The Archaeology Unit of Southampton City Council carried out an archaeological watching brief at 6 Kent Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, on the groundworks for the construction of a block of 7 flats, on behalf of their clients Latimer and Ayles Partnership Limited. The site lies in Area 2 of the Local Areas of Archaeological Importance as defined by Portsmouth City Council. Area 2 covers the area of the naval dockyard, founded by 1495, and its defences. It includes the area of the settlement, housing dockworkers and their families, which became known as Portsea, and also the defensive circuit that protected the dockyard and settlement by the late 18th century. The area is defined principally as one of importance for post-medieval archaeology. No features or deposits of archaeological significance were observed.

The Archaeology Unit of Southampton City Council carried out an archaeological watching brief at 150-156 Fratton Road, Portsmouth associated with the construction of new housing units on behalf of their clients, Portsmouth Housing Association. The site is within Local Area of Archaeological Importance 3. This area is a long north-south strip along Fratton Road covering the area of the medieval settlements of Fratton at its south end and Buckland/Kingston at its north. The aims of the investigation were principally to investigate the presence or absence of human use of the area, and the date, type, state of preservation, and extent of that use; to recover associated objects; and to record such evidence as did survive. In addition, the nature, dimensions, and relationship of natural deposits were to be noted and recorded. A total of 27 trenches were dug. The earliest archaeological evidence was from the 16th-17th century and consisted of two pits situated near the centre of the site. Other 18th century rubbish pits were found. 19th century pottery, a stoneware bottle, bricks, and cellars suggest the site was built up in that period.

Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit carried out an archaeological watching brief at the former Guardsman public house, 129 Fratton Road, Portsmouth on behalf of their clients, Stephen Walsh Developments. The site is within Portsmouth local area of archaeological importance 3. This area is a long north-south strip along Fratton Road covering the area of the medieval settlements of Fratton at its south end and Buckland/Kingston at its north. The area is defined principally as one of importance for medieval and post-medieval archaeology. A grade II timber-framed house stood at the north end of the street frontage. It was probably of 17th century date and may originally have been the south end of a lobby entrance house. In the 18th century a brick-built cottage was built against the south end of the earlier house. At some stage, probably by 1785, the two were formed into a single property, and doors were cut through the intervening wall, this may relate to the building becoming a public house, which it certainly was by 1830. In the later 19th century the north end of the original timberframed house was demolished. An archaeological watching brief on groundworks to the south and west of the surviving buildings produced no evidence for activity that pre-dated the houses. The client had previously submitted to the planning authority an illustrated record file of the standing building. The development involved demolishing modern extensions followed by division of the building into two dwelling houses. Further houses were to be constructed to the rear.

The Archaeology Unit of Southampton City Council carried out an archaeological watching brief at the Golf Driving Range, Burrfields Road, Portsmouth on behalf of their clients, Portsmouth Golf Centre on 4 June 2008. This was carried out prior to the erection of a new fence along the western edge of the site. The site is located in the southern part of Local Area of Archaeological Importance 12. This area 'covers the northern part of the shore of Langstone Harbour. Work in the harbour itself has revealed extensive prehistoric activity likely to extend into this area. Later it includes the northern part of the extensive salterns on the shore of Langstone Harbour. The work revealed no natural or ancient deposits - all deposits and finds were modern. The watching brief showed that modern deposits on the west side of the driving range were at least 1m thick. This area was used for rubbish disposal in the 20th century. Archaeologically significant deposits may survive below the modern deposits.

The Archaeology Unit of Southampton City Council carried out an archaeological watching brief on a gas trench at the northern end of Fratton Road, Portsmouth on behalf of their client, Portsmouth City Council. The site is within Local Area of Archaeological Importance 3. This area is a long north-south strip along Fratton Road covering the area of the medieval settlements of Fratton at its south end and Buckland/Kingston at its north. The area is defined principally as one of importance for medieval and post-medieval archaeology. The natural was observed between 0.60m and 0.85m below the surface along the entire trench. A gravel road surface shows where Church Road once met Fratton Road suggesting that Church Road extended further east and that the west edge of Fratton Road was located further east. A series of brick and limestone footings were observed along the length of the trench and were the remains of tenements along Fratton Road. The footings run at a different angle to the modern day Fratton Road suggesting that the road ran more northeast-southwest and was further east than its present position. One pit was observed, it contained several cow metacarpals and metatarsals, fragments of brick, a fragment of 18/19th century Verwood pottery and fragments of 19th century glass. No archaeology was observed from a point slightly beyond the northern driveway to the vicarage to just before number 247 Fratton Road.