Event/Activity EPM287 - Southsea Coastal Defence Scheme Sub Frontage 4, Southsea Castle, Archaeological Watching Brief Caponier Investigation

Wessex Archaeology carried out an archaeological watching brief between 14th and 15th of August 2023 on a single test pit in the moat at Southsea Castle. The work was commissioned by Coastal Partners as part of the larger Southsea Coastal Defence Scheme and aimed to achieve a better understanding of water ingress into the caponier (covered passage across the dry moat) which was adjacent to sub-frontage 4 of the scheme. The watching brief was carried out as a condition of Scheduled Monument Consent. Archaeological monitoring took place on the hand excavation of a test pit 3.0m long by 1.0m wide and approximately 1.0m deep within the moat on the south side of the castle. The test pit was located in the corner of the western side of where the caponier meets the interior castle wall. The trench was aligned lengthways parallel with the caponier wall. The foundations of the caponier and interior castle walls were exposed and recorded during the watching brief. No other archaeological features or deposits were identified.