Monument MPM1662 - Culvert, Gunwharf Quays

The remains of a large brick and stone culvert, possibly an overflow to the former millpond to the King's Mill, revealed during a watching brief in 2002. The remains of a short section of the milldam wall were also observed.

The remains of a large brick and stone culvert revealed during a watching brief in 2002. It's exact function is not known, but it may have been related to the former millpond to the King's Mill (see MPM1013), possibly acting as a sluice or overflow linking the millpond (situated to the south-east) to the open water of the harbour to the west. A dressed stone opening at it's western end opened into a basin west of the milldam. The eastern end of the culvert was not exposed during the investigation, but it may have linked to the millpond to the east of the dam. The internal walls had been faced with finely jointed dressed stone blocks. It was wide enough for two people to walk along, although it is unlikely to have been used as a passageway.

A large stone dam projecting northwards from Mill Redoubt (see MPM24) originally contained the millpond to the east. Part of the milldam, consisting of a short section of stone rubble wall, was revealed in the same test pit as the culvert during the watching brief.

Gifford and Partners Ltd, 2003, Ariadne and Piazza, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth: Results of the Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SPM315.