Monument MPM1558 - Former 16th century house, Oyster Street

The remains of a substantial mid to late-16th century house (F4) were revealed during excavations in Oyster Street in 1968-71. The house was constructed on the site of a medieval store (see MPM1553) which had been demolished during the early to mid-16th century. The footings of the north wall of the house consisted of two flimsy rows of stone. The footings of the south wall had been constructed mainly from random sized limestone blocks. A neat pathway of large beach pebbles and stones, with an integral drain, ran immediately alongside the south wall. [1, p55]

The house contained a small stone built well, 1.5m in diameter (the shaft had a diameter of 80cm) and 2m deep. The well had fallen out of use by the time the floor of the house was resurfaced at some point between the late-16th and early-17th century. Early-16th century local and imported pottery and metalwork was recovered from a layer of silt and domestic rubbish contained within the fill of the well. [1, p59]

The house was modified during the late-16th to late-17th century, when an extension containing a red-brick fireplace/hearth was added to the east side. The floor was resurfaced throughout with a 4-5cm thick mixture of chalk and clay which sealed the well. [1, p61]

The remains of a late-16th to late-17th century outhouse which abutted the eastern side of the house were also revealed during the excavations (see MPM1565). [1, p61]

A shallow gulley containing a footing of small stones was recorded to the south of the house, and may have represented the remains of another outbuilding. [1, p64]

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