Event/Activity EPM161 - Archaeological Building Recording and Watching Brief at the Former Three Crowns Public House, 10 St James's Street

An archaeological building recording was carried out by Southampton Archaeology Unit at the former Three Crowns Public House on the 26th November and 6th December 2007. The survey took place prior to the demolition of the building, and the construction of a new apartment block on the site. A watching brief was carried out on the demolition of the building on the 12th December and 9th January 2008. The building recording included a photographic survey using Minolta 35mm SLR cameras and llford FP4 monochrome film and Fuji Sensia colour slide film. Plans were produced of each floor by direct measurement. Digitised plans in AutoCAD and digital photographs were taken for inclusion in the report. During the watching brief the roof and first floor were demolished by hand, and most of the ground floor was demolished by machine. The basement was not grubbed out. This meant that the most detailed recording took place in the roof and first floor areas. The building recording and the watching brief concluded that the building as it appeared in 2007 probably dated to between 1870-1898, when there were major structural alterations to the site. Additional 20th century alterations included the rebuilding of the south end, probably due to bomb damage. Cartographic evidence suggested that there was a Three Crowns established on the site by 1798 (definitely by 1823), and that this may have been re-built shortly after 1835. However, no 18th or early 19th century fabric or features were revealed. A further watching brief was carried out during redevelopment work at the site in 2011 by Thames Valley Archaeological Services (accession number 2012/25). Accession number 2007/90