Monument MPM1556 - Former Medieval sea defence wall, Oyster Street

The remains of an early sea defence wall revealed during excavations in Oyster Street in 1968-71. The wall formed part of a 14th century dock and quay complex which fell into disuse during the early-16th century.

The remains of an early sea defence wall were revealed during excavations in Oyster Street in 1968-71. The wall was part of a dock and quay complex, which played an important role in the town's early commercial shipping trade during the 14th and 15th centuries. It was 1m thick and had been constructed using a stake and wattle barrier on the landward side, and horizontal facing of prepared oak planks with a mixed infill of heavy clay stones on the seaward side. It was not possible to determine the original height of the wall as it had only survived below the residual water-table. The wall ran on a north-south alignment at right-angles to the eastern end of a 14th century dock (see MPM155). It would have fallen into disuse during the early-16th century when the whole site appears to have become redundant.

[1, p52-53]

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