Monument MPM1076 - 101 - 115 Kingston Road

Three brick-lined wells, probably 19th century, recorded during an archaeological watching in 2003. Finds recovered from the site included pottery (medieval, post-medieval and modern) and fragments of clay pipe.

A watching brief on the site in 2003 recovered some evidence of activity in the area, although there was no specific evidence of pre-19th century use of the site.

The majority of the finds dated to the 19th and 20th century, and the main features uncovered were three brick-lined wells (probably 19th century). The first of these was a 'beehive' type, made of unfrogged hand-made red bricks of a standard size. The well was at least 1.3m deep with a diameter of 0.45m at the top, increasing to about 1m. The second well was about 1m in diameter, and was made of red bricks, frogged and unfrogged, and also included some curved bricks. The third well was at least 1.3m deep with a 0.8m diameter, and was constructed from shallow-frogged red bricks bonded with lime mortar. A ceramic drainpipe had been introduced from above, presumably for use as a soakaway.

Three sherds of medieval pottery and one fragment of medieval tile were recovered from unstratified deposits. The fact that they were all abraded (worn) suggests they may have been the product of field manuring. Excavations at 102 Kingston Crescent in 1977 (MPM170) suggest there was a medieval settlement in the vicinty, although its extent cannot be determined.

Post-medieval pottery and building material was recovered from unstratified deposits, together with five fragments of clay pipe dating from the 17th - 19th centuries and musket/pistol shot of roughly the same date range. Early modern pottery and clay pipe fragments were also recovered.

Museum accession number 2003/1925

Whitehead, B, 2004, Summary report on an archaeological watching brief at 101 - 115 Kingston Road, Portsmouth, 2003/1925 (Unpublished document). SPM90.