Event/Activity EPM113 - Archaeological Watching Brief at 247 Fratton Road, Portsmouth

A watching brief was carried out by Southampton Archaeology Unit between August 2008 and January 2009, on groundworks for the construction of flats at 247 Fratton Road. A total of 20 trenches were excavated by mechanical digger for footings. Trenches 1-16 were 0.6m wide and 0.9m deep, trenches 17-19 were 1m wide and 2m deep, and trench 20 was 1.5m wide and 2m deep. The site is situated within the glebe lands of the nearby St. Mary's Church, parish church for Portsea, which is thought to have Saxon origins (the present church was built in the 1880s and replaced an earlier 12th century building). The site is also within an area of archaeological potential which covers the Manor of Fratton, defined principally as one of medieval and post-medieval importance. No archaeologically significant features were found during the work. The only finds were one fragment of burnt flint, and 19th century pottery, clay pipe, tile, glass, oyster, winkle and slipper limpets. Accession number: 2008/158