Event/Activity EPM175 - An Archaeological Watching Brief at Trafalgar Gate Link Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Archaeology South East on groundworks for a new link road at Trafalgar Gate in 2010. The watching brief was carried out within 4 sites which had been identified as being of particular interest for post-medieval remains, and another site further north near Rudmore flyover. It was intended that a formal archaeological excavation and recording take place before the development work had commenced. However, this was not possible, and instead areas of intrusive groundwork were monitored by an archaeologist, and archaeological remains directly threatened by the work recorded. In areas where it was necessary and possible to do so, mechanical excavation on the site was carried out using a flat-bladed bucket. Spoil heaps and archaeological features were scanned with a metal detector. A desk based assessment of the site was undertaken prior to the watching brief. This concluded that the site lay within an area of high potential for post-medieval archaeology relating to documented 19th and 20th century urban development, but of relatively low potential for earlier periods. The watching brief concluded that Second World War bomb damage, demolition and levelling, and the mechanical excavation for the monitored groundworks had reduced the vast majority of the archaeological remains on the site to rubble. The foundations of some of the 19th century houses remained, although most had been removed during demolition and subsequent works. No evidence of activity on the site prior to the 19th century was observed. Accession No: 2010/311