Event/Activity EPM127 - Archaeological Watching Brief at Grand Parade, Portsmouth

A watching brief was carried by Southampton Archaeology Unit during the excavation of service trenches in Grand Parade in 2011. A total of three trenches were excavated, each of which measured c300mm wide and c300m deep. The site is located within Old Portsmouth, an area of archaeological potential defined as being of principle importance for medieval and post-medieval archaeology. Excavations nearby on the eastern side of Grand Parade in 1972 revealed the remains of c16th/17th century buildings, and a section of a solidly built tunnel 1.4m high, constructed from limestone on an east-west alignment. There was not enough tunnel exposed to be able to determine its destination in either direction. A stone built tunnel with brick repairs was exposed by contractors carrying out groundworks for re-paving on the west side of Grand Parade in 2010. The tunnel was photographed by the contractors, but no archaeological investigation/recording was carried out. The excavations were not deep enough to reach the tunnel that was found in 2010. No deposits of archaeological significance were observed, and no finds were recovered. Accession number: 2011/7