Event/Activity EPM143 - Fratton Bridge 1982

An excavation was carried out by Portsmouth Museum Service in 1982 in the rear garden areas of Nos. 146-156 Victoria Road North. The work concentrated on the areas relating to Nos. 148-154. The houses had been demolished just prior to the excavation taking place. The site was bounded by cellarage belonging to the houses on the west, standing buildings on the north and east, and a road to the south. The cellaras had been cut approximately 1m into the natural gravel, and had therefore removed all trace of pre late 19th- early 20th century occupation. Archaeological features and finds consisted of post-medieval plough furrows, Bronze Age flints, and medieval and 17th century pottery. The work was part of a series of excavations that took place during land clearance in Fratton in 1982, ahead of the construction of a new north-south road. See records EMP23 and EMP143-146. Further excavations were carried out in the area in 1983, see records EMP147-152. 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.