Find Spot MPM1079 - 16-20 Kingston Road

Evidence of post-medieval and modern activity on the site of the 19th century George public house observed during an archaeological watching brief in 2005. The majority of the finds recovered from the site dated to the 19th and 20th century and included clay pipe, fragments of beer/wine bottles and stoneware tankards.

Evidence of post-medieval and modern activity on the site of the former George public house was observed during a watching brief in 2005. The fact that no evidence of Medieval activity was found suggests the site lies between and outside of the Medieval settlements at Kingston Crescent and Fratton.

A layer of disturbed or redeposited brickearth at the eastern end of the site contained post-medieval pottery, building material, an early clay pipe stem and animal remains. As no finds of a later date were present in this layer, it was thought that it could relate to the initial 18th century development of the area. However, most of the finds recovered from the site dated from the 19th and 20th centuries, and the only stratified deposit from this period was a dump of domestic refuse to the rear of the building line along the northern edge of the site.

A number of clay pipes recovered from the site were by local makers, including James Frost of Portchester (1743-1827), John Clay of Lion Terrace (fl 1835), and Richard Hoar of Portsmouth. Other finds included fragments of glass beer or wine bottles and sherds from stoneware tankards. These presumably related to the 19th century 'The George' public house.

Accession number 2005/283

Whitehead, B, 2005, Summary report on an archaeological watching brief at 16-20 Kingston Road, Portsmouth (Unpublished document). SPM93.