Event/Activity EPM194 - Mill Redoubt Excavation, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth

An archaeological excavation was carried out by Gifford and Partners Ltd on the site of a proposed new car park and amphlitheatre at the Gunwharf Quays development in 2000. Previous archaeological work had shown that the remains of the Mill Redoubt fort, built c.1690, survived within the area of the development site. The fort had formed part of the remodelled 17th century Portsmouth Town defences, and was demolished during the late 19th century. Two trenches were excavated, one in the area of the car park (south-east section of redoubt), the second in the footprint of the amphitheatre (northern 'tip' of redoubt). The work involved the excavation and removal of the backfill of the Veron Basin, which was infilled during the early 1920s. This was made up of brick rubble, which probably came from the C.O.O's residence, demolished prior to the construction of the Ariadne building in 1923. The remains of the redoubt were encounted in both trenches, and the main body of the structure survived in good condition, despite service trenches having truncated the archaeology in several places. Accession No: 2000/17