Event/Activity EPM12 - Portsmouth Power Station

Portsmouth Museum Service carried out a rescue excavation within the coal yard of the former Electricty Generating Station (Portsmouth Power Station) in September and October 1984 prior to the redevelopment of the site. The Power Station had been demolished the same year. The site lay in an area which had been situated within the medieval town walls of Portsmouth, although it did not appear to have been developed until the 17th century. A former medieval Chapel of St. Mary, built 1320, is recorded on early maps within this area of the town. The coal yard site had been occupied by Colewort Barracks built c.1694 prior to the expansion of the Power Station in the early 20th century. The excavation concentrated on the coal yard as this area was identified as offering the best archaeological potential. Three trial trenches were excavated across the site, all of which revealed a typical section consisting of an upper layer of modern brick rubble and coal dust over a brick rubble demolition layer relating to Colewort Barracks. Beneath this were several compacted layers of gravel representing the resurfacing of the barrack square which sealed a layer of soil representing the pre-17th Century ground surface. Trench 3 was extended to follow the remaining footings of the east wall of the c.1694 barrack building, and excavations continued to the east of this line. Features relating to the former Colewort Barracks were revealed during the excavation, together with the remains of 19 burials dating to the early 17th century. There was no evidence of the medieval chapel. Accession number: 1984/105