Monument MPM1027 - 150-156 Fratton Road, Portsmouth

Evidence of activity dating from the 16th/17th century onwards, including rubbish pits, pottery and tile, and features relating to 19th century buildings which formerly stood on the site.

Evidence of activity dating from the 16th/17th century onwards, observed during a watching brief in 2007. Features and finds included rubbish pits, pottery and tile, and cellars relating to former 19th century buildings on the site. Although the site is located in a north-south strip along Fratton Road believed to cover an area of medieval settlements, no evidence dating to this period was found.

The earliest archaeological evidence consisted of two pits located towards the centre of the site, dating to the 16th/17th century. It is possible that one of these, a large irregular shallow pit measuring 9.9m long, 8.5m wide and 0.8m deep, may have been a brickearth quarry pit. It's fill contained a few fragments of Post-Medieval brick , 16th/17th century roof tile and one fragment of Post-Medieval earthenware pot. Fragments of oyster shell, brick, roof tile, pot and a fragment of 16th-17th century earthenware were recovered from the second pit. This was interpreted as a probable rubbish pit. The roof tile may have been re-used in a later building.

A 17th-18th century phase was represented by a layer, 260mm thick, which contained fragments of late-18th century clay pipe, roof tile (possibly re-used), brick and oyster shell. Evidence of 18th century rubbish pits was also found.

Evidence of 19th century buildings which formerly stood on the site was seen in the form of two cellars, construction trenches, and a layer of brick and concrete (possibly a hard standing for a house). Further activity from this period included a pit towards the eastern end of the site containing fragments of coal, early-19th century brick, and a residual fragment of 17-18th century early verwood pottery, and a layer of clay loam across the centre of the site which contained fragments of tile, brick, 19th century pot, coal, chalk and oyster shell. A complete stoneware bottle dating to the early 19th century was found in the east of the site, but was unstratified.

Modern features consisted of a foundation trench with a concrete foundation, and drainage and electric trenches.

Accession number: 2007/12

Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit, 2007, Archaeological watching brief at 150-156 Fratton Road, Portsmouth (Unpublished document). SPM74.