Monument MPM1174 - 39-47 Claremont Road

The remains of a 19th century terrace, and a number of brickearth extraction pits recorded during an archaeological evaluation at the site of 39-47 Claremont Road Fratton in 2007.

A total of 12 pits, ranging from 0.28m to 0.45 in depth, had been dug into the brickearth. They had been back-filled with dark brown silt containing occasional chalk, oyster shell, charcoal and brick. The bricks and two sherds of post-medieval pottery recovered from the fill of the pits indicates they were back-filled during the post-medieval period. Their frequency, irregular size and shape suggests they were dug to extract brickearth. A layer of re-deposited brickearth, 0.1m-0.5m deep, may have been put on the site to level the ground after the pits had been back-filled.

The remains of a late 19th century terrace (marked on the 1896 Ordnance Survey map), were the earliest evidence of occupation on the site. This building had been demolished during the second half of the 20th century. The front brick wall and its foundation cut were revealed, together with the remains of what was probably a coal chute attached to the front of the terrace. The rear wall and the remains of the steps to the cellars were also present. The cellars had been back-filled with rubble, and would have been approximately 1.5m deep when in use.

Concrete foundations belonging to a second building constructed after the 19th century terrace had been demolished, were found running north-south. This building had been demolished prior to the archaeological evaluation in 2009.

Accession number: 2007/52

West Sussex Archaeology, 2007, 39-47 Claremont Road, Report on a Programme of Archaeological Works (Unpublished document). SPM151.