Event/Activity EPM101 - Archaeological Watching Brief at Gold Driving Range, Burrfields Road, Portsmouth

An archaeological watching brief was carried out by Southampton Archaeology Unit on the 4th June 2008, prior to the erection of a new fence along the western edge of the Golf Driving Range at Burrfields Road. The fringes of Langstone Harbour are known to have been used for salt production since the perhistoric period. The area of the driving range is shown as part of an extensive saltern on Edward's map of Portsea dated 1716, and Milne's map of 1791. A total of 15 post-holes excavated by auger and measuring 1m deep by 0.5m in diametre, were observed on the west side of the driving range. It was decided to end the watching brief before the work had been completed, as it became evident that the new fence would only disturb a 20th century rubbish dump. The only deposits and finds encountered on the site were modern (layers 1 and 2). The earliest of these modern deposits, layer 2, contained glass jars (including Bovril and Milk of Magnesia), fragments of china and crockery and a figurine. It is possible that archaeologically significant deposits survive below the modern deposits, which were at least 1m thick. Accession number: 2008/124