Event/Activity EPM142 - Northumberland Road, Fratton July 1983

Archaeological excavations were carried out at the northern end of Northumberland Road, approximately 80m south-west of Fratton Bridge, by Portsmouth Museum Service in July 1983. The area would originally have been open land, and had probably been used for agricultural purposes until terraced housing was built around 1880. The housing had been demolished prior to the excavation taking place. Excavations were centred on two rectangular areas, one to the east (Area A) and one to the west (Area B) of Northumberland Road. Both areas were cleared and trowelled over. Area A measured 13m x 16m, and was on the site of former terraced houses nos. 1, 3, 5 and 7. Any stratified upper levels had been removed when the area was stripped of the overlying brick-earth deposit during the 19th century. However, the fact that the foundations of the late-19th century terraces had not cut too deeply into the subsoil, meant that some earlier features had survived. These included pits containing medieval pottery. Area B was located to the west of Northumberland Road, near its junction with Cumberland Road, and measured 15m x 15m. A broad brick-earth ridge, 30cms high, on a north-south alignment was revealed following the removal of the demolition rubble and modern garden soil. This ridge was proven to be the result of the brick-earth having been removed, probably during the 19th century. Evidence of agricultural or stripping work was represented by shallow depresions that remained at the lower level of the brick-earth, immediately above the surface of the underlying plateau gravel. No other archaeological features were observed, but some Bronze Age flints were recovered. Additional excavations took place in Fratton during 1982 (see EMP23 and EMP143-146) and May (see EMP147-152) and October 1983. No evidence of medieval structures was revealed, but the presence of medieval pottery at a number of sites suggests there was a settlement near by.