Event/Activity EPM66 - An archaeological desk-based assessment of St Mary's Glebeland, Church Road, Portsmouth

An archaeological desk-based assessment carried out in response to a proposed development of St Mary's glebelands in Fratton. The site was a pasture field to the west of the Old Vicarage (now Lawnswood) in Fratton Road, once forming part of the glebe (church) land of the parish. The assessment concluded that as the area had probably been glebeland since the medieval period, it was unlikely that any further medieval development had taken place. However, there was the possibility of outbuildings lying within the northern part of the proposed development area (as shown on the 1838 tithe map), and it was also possible that the area had been used for pit digging and rubbish disposal. It was therefore recommended that as the site may have some limited potential to inform on the historical development of the medieval settlement around St Mary's Church, that a watching brief be carried out on the groundworks of any future development.