Monument MPM1552 - Former 13th century building, Oyster Street

The remains of a late-13th century building revealed during excavations at Oyster Street in 1968-71. The building was in existance until around the mid-17th century, having undergone a series of alterations/improvements.

Excavations at Oyster Street in 1968-71 revealed the remains of a building (F1) that stood on the site from the late-13th to around the mid-17th century. This building had undergone a series of alterations during its existence. At the time of its construction, the building would have been situated 5m from the east bank of the Camber. A smaller square building to the south (MPM1553) contemporary with F1 may have been used as an outbuilding such as a store.

The first phase of construction in the late-13th century was of a 15m x 8m rectangular building on a north-south alignment. The remains of substantial sections of limestone walling c. 1m thick and upto 0.5m high survived in places representing the north, west and south walls. A small line of stones was all that remained of the east wall. [1, p41]

A square gravel and stone filled latrine was situated outside the east wall, with a series of post-holes to the south. The latter may have supported a screen. Northeast of the latrine was another line of post-holes interpreted as an extension to the main building. [1, p41-42]

The building was extended during the 14th-15th centuries. A north-south corridor/porch with a central east-west division was added to the west side/front. An eastern extension containing a stone-built open-hearth fireplace was added to the rear of the main building. A further extension 8m x 5m was accessed by a narrow passageway on the north side of this structure. [1, p45-46]

A brick-built baking oven was added to the fireplace during the final phase of alterations in the 16th century. No evidence was found of this building having been present on the site after the mid-17th century. [1, p55]

See excavation report Fox, R & Barton, K, 1986, Excavations at Oyster Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, 1968-71 (Reprinted from Post-Medieval Archaeology No. 20 1986)

<1> Fox, R & Barton, K, 1986, Excavations at Oyster Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, 1968-71 (Bibliographic reference). SPM34.