Event/Activity EPM206 - Ten Gun Battery

Excavations were carried out by Portsmouth Museum Service at Ten Gun Battery in c1989, when three trenches were cut into the promenade behind the parapet. The purpose of the work was to consolidate and stabilise the sea wall, and determine whether it would be possible to restore any military features that had survived. The rear of the parapet had been backfilled and concreted over when the battery had become part of the promenade in the mid-20th century. The battery was probably built during the 1670s or 1680s, and had been modified in the 1860s. The investigation revealed the 19th century red brick built parapet wall, shell recesses and firing step, which were thought to be in a restorable condition. Evidence of some of the 17th century embrasures (gun positions) was also found, but they were not in a good enough condition to be restored. It was thought that a more extensive excavation would probably reveal evidence of further gun positions.