Event/Activity EPM298 - Analytical Buildings Record (Level 3) at Southsea Coastal Defence Scheme, Sub Frontage 1, Southsea, Hampshire

An historic building record of the seaward side of the sea wall to Long Curtain Moat and Spur Redoubt was undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in 2020. The work was carried out as part of the wider Southsea Coastal Defence Scheme and was commissioned by Coastal Partners and Portsmouth City Council. The historic building record formed part of an Archaeological Mitigation Strategy for the coastal defence works required as a condition of planning permission and Scheduled Monument Consent. The work took place on the 15 and 16 of October and the 9th and 14th December 2020 within Sub Frontage 1 of the scheme. Recorded elements included part of, and structures adjacent to, the Long Curtain, King's Bastion and Spur Redoubt Scheduled Monument. The historic building record undertaken was a Level 3 ‘analytical’ record based on Historic England guidance Understanding Historic Buildings: A guide to good recording practice (2016). The recording involved an initial photographic survey and observations on the structures by specialist buildings archaeologists. This was followed by a photogrammetric survey involving ground-based photography and UAV aerial photography to produce an orthographic plan and elevation images. The drawn record, the data gathered from site analysis, and the results of the related Sub Frontage 1 archaeological watching brief [see EPM286] were used to inform, support and illustrate the analytical account of the structures presented in the historic building record report. In addition, the historic building record utilised documentary research gathered for previous heritage studies related to the Southsea Coastal Defence Scheme. A sloped masonry surface/apron made from cobblestones and a concrete revetment wall and walkway covered the area of the beach between the Saluting Platform and Spur Redoubt. The apron had probably initially been laid during the early 19th century and was later extended to cover 18th century sea defence walls and a jetty feature exposed on the west side of Spur Redoubt during the watching brief [EPM286]. When the apron and revetment walls were removed around December 2020 as part of the coastal defence works the Long Curtain wall was found to be in poor condition and large sections had been replaced by footings to the Millenium Walkway. The historic building record and archaeological watching brief in Sub Frontage 1 [EPM286] have provided a better understanding of the seaward wall of the Long Curtain Moat and the Spur Redoubt together with other historic structures revealed within this area during the course of the Southsea Coastal Defence Scheme. Temporary exposure of the full depth of the seaward wall during the works revealed original 17th century courses which included intricately carved surviving mason’s marks. This lower section of wall had been hidden and protected from beach scour and storm damage. The upper part of the wall had been extensively modified and repaired including when the Millenium Walkway was added. Repairs had been made to the core of the wall using concrete bags, there was some replacement of limestone masonry, sporadic repointing in cementitious mortar, and limited use of brick or smaller stones to infill gaps in the facework. Portsmouth Museum Service Accession No: 2020/51