Monument MPM1576 - Former industrial building, Oyster Street

The remains of a large industrial building (F14) dating to the late-17th to the late-18th century period revealed during excavations in Oyster Street between 1968-71. The building was approximately 13m square. Substantial stone footings, upper levels of red brickwork and a centre row of square stone footings from roof support pillars. [1, p65]

A number of hearths (F10, F13, F22 and F23), some of which post-dated each other, were located within the building. These included a melting hearth (F13) and a series of kilns/hearths (F10) constructed on the same spot as, and post-dating F13. F10 and F13 contained a number of finds including copper slag, fragements of clay tobacco pipe, and sherds of pottery dating to the 17th and c. early-18th century. [1, p67-68]

Four pits all dating to the late-17th to late-18th century were found within the building. A further pit (P1) was located to the north.

P1 - Situated to the north of the building. 1.5m long x 1m wide x 75cm. Fill contained broken and reject clay pipes of London and Wiltshire styles dating to between c.1700-1730, part of an inscribed sword blade, a bronze buckle, a bone implement and a comb.

P4 - 3m long x 1.5m wide x 1.75m deep. Situated in the northwest corner of the building. Pieces of sagger* material and broken and reject clay pipes of London and Wiltshire styles dating to between c.1700-1730 were found in the lower fill of the pit.

* a large clay container into which the pipes would have been placed inside the kiln to protect them from the flames during firing.

P9 - approximately 3m square x 1m deep. Situated in the southeast corner of the building. Its fill contained a large quantity of blue roofing slate debris, which may have been the result of slate trimming or re-use, and a pair of brass dividers.

P10 - Small rectangular pit in the southwest corner of the building. Its fill contained several items of glassware.

P11 - Large sub-rectangular pit situated in the corner of the building. Its fill contained a number of roofing slates.

[1, p73-77]


The remains of a stone-built soakaway (F1) dating to the same period abutted the outside of the south wall at the east end of the building. The soil fill contained early-18th century pottery and items of glass. [1, p72]

See Fox, R & Barton, K, 1986, Excavations at Oyster Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, 1968-71, for full details.

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