Event/Activity EPM147 - Victoria Road North, Fratton May 1983

Excavations were carried out by Portsmouth Museum Service at a site between Northumberland Road and Victoria Road North in 1982. A total of five trenches measuring 10m long by 1m wide were excavated in the former gardens of Nos. 155-159 Victoria Road North. The terraced housing had been demolished at least a year prior to the investigations taking place. In all but one of the trenches the 19th-20th garden soil cleared at plateau gravel level. It was assumed that the brick-earth had been removed during the 19th century, as no finds pre-dating this period were recovered. In trench 4a an area of relatively undisturbed plough soil, around 20cms deep and covering an area 6m x 3m, was revealed 30cms below the modern build up. This layer of soil contained fragments of late 17th century pottery. A 2m deep drainage trench was observed along the rear of the building line of the premises. The work was part of a series of excavations carried out in Fratton in May 1983, in an area bounded by Victoria Road North and Somers Road on the east and west side, and the railway line and Abingdon Road to the north and south. The aims of the excavations were to locate and examine evidence of earlier occupation, and observe the nature and distribution of superficial deposits, such as plough soil and brick-earth. The excavations were undertaken prior to the construction of a new north-south road through Fratton. See records EMP147-152. Additional excavations were carried out in 1982, and July and October 1983.