Event/Activity EPM106 - A Subterranean Chamber at George Court, High Street, Portsmouth

Southampton Archaeology Unit carried out archaeological recording on a subterranean brick chamber uncovered outside nos. 13, 14 and 15 George Court, High Street, Old Portsmouth in January 2009. The chamber had been discovered by workmen replacing a lamp post, and needed to be recorded quickly so that it could be backfilled and the new lamp post erected. As it was not considered safe to enter the chamber, recording was confined to the parts of the vault that could be seen from the surface. Photographs were taken through a 0.60m by 0.40m hole in the pavement, and a brick from the roof of the vault was retained. The chamber consisted of two adjacent rooms, each with a passageway leading off. The size of the bricks would indicate a mid to late 19th century date. It is possible that the chamber had been used to store coal, or it may have been associated with the use of the bank which formerely stood on the site. Accession No: 2009/102