Find Spot MPM1001 - 26 Bishop Street, Portsea

Prehistoric flints, a medieval soil horizon and 18th/19th century features and finds recorded during a watching brief on the site of the 19th century Butcher's Arms public house in 2003.

Late-medieval soil horizon (probably part of Portsmouth Common), two 18th century pits, an 18th/19th century cellar, and a 19th century brick-lined cess pit, revealed during a watching brief on the site of the 19th century Butcher's Arms public house in 2003.

The earliest finds on the site were two burnt flints recovered from a layer of silty clay loam/brickearth, probably deposited at the end of the last ice age. Further burnt flints and a flint core were recovered from the layer above. These finds suggest the area was possibly used during the Mesolithic period or later.

A buried soil horizon suggested agricultural activity had taken place on the site during the late-medieval period. Small fragments of bone, roof tile, medieval pottery and west country roof slate were recovered, indicating the area may have been ploughed and manured. The roof tile and slate suggest the refuse came from a higher status site than a peasants holding.

A large pit-like feature measuring at least 3m by 2m was excavated near the north end of the site. The finds were of 18th century date, with possible residual 17th century material. It is thought that three small fragments of 19th century clay pipe may have been intrusive.

A second pit-like feature at the north end of the site contained only one datable find, a medicine phial, probably of 18th century date. Only the eastern edge of this feature was exposed.

Due to the lack of finds in both pits, it is possible they were dug for gravel, rather than being used as rubbish pits.

A cellar (western cellar) approximately 6m by 6m and 1.2m deep, was revealed in the south-west corner of the site. The west wall was possibly associated with outbuildings shown on the 1898 map, or with a 1950s extension. The north and east walls were possibly part of an outbuilding shown on the 1865 map. These walls were contained within a large cellar trench, and would have enclosed a basement about 4m square.

A large cellar (eastern cellar), approximately 8m by 5m and 3m deep, was present at the east end of the site. This was probably related to the mid-19th century Butcher's Arms public house. However, demolition of the building above ground had removed all evidence of the building and it's later phases.

A brick-lined cess pit, probably rectangular, contained two fills between its east and west walls. A 19th century ceramic mortar (Mason's Patent Ironstone), was found in the upper fill (8). The lower fill (9) contained 19th century rubbish. The finds included; Chateau Lafitte bottles, medicine bottles and window glass; Copeland-Late-Spode AD1847+, Mocha ware, Pearlware, imitation Jasperware, Mason's Ironstone, and Creamware; an intact Holloway's Ointment pot (dated after 1842); food refuse, including animal bones, cockles and winkles; a number of 19th century clay pipes, no iddentifying marks.

Accession number: 2003/2391

Smith, M.P., 2003, Report on the archaeological watching brief at 26 Bishop Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Unpublished document). SPM26.