Event/Activity EPM94 - Archaeological watching brief at the former Guardsman public house, 129 Fratton Road, Portsmouth

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Southampton Archaeology Unit at the former Guardsman public house, 129 Fratton Road, Portsmouth between December 2007 and May 2008. 129 Fratton Road is a Grade II Listed Building. The listing entry suggests a c.16th/17th century construction date. The report for the watching brief undertaken in 2007/8, confirmed there were two main phases of construction: a 17th century timber-framed house at the northern end, and an 18th century cottage built against the southern end of the earlier building. These two buildings were later combined to form one property, which was in use as a public house by 1830. There was evidence to suggest that the northern bay may possibly be the surviving southern end of a 17th century lobby-entry farmhouse, the northern end of which was demolished by the mid 19th century. The timber-framing of the surviving building suggested a 17th century date, which supports the description recorded on the listed building entry. A total of 25 trenches were excavated during groundworks to the south and west of the surviving buildings. Western extensions to the building were demolished during work on the development, and no record was made of the interior of the extensions prior to demolition. Two pits, interpreted as soakaways, were observed to the west of the north bay of the Guardsman. Footings relating to 19th/20th century extensions and lean-tos shown on earlier maps were observed to the west of the street frontage structures. Modern features consisted of a circular brick-built soakaway or well, and concrete footings belonging to the south wall of the late 19th century 131 Fratton Road to the north. The only evidence of activity revealed during the watching brief related to the 19th and 20th century use of the building. Finds consisted of fragments of clay pipe, brick, roof tile, mortar, plaster and 19th century/modern pottery. Accession No: 2007/15